Terry: In the spotlight

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QPR v Chelsea

QPR and Chelsea want football to be the focus ahead of their FA Cup fourth round clash at Loftus Road.

Saturday will be the first time Chelsea skipper John Terry and Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand meet since the Blues’ 1-0 league loss in October. Terry is expected in court on 1 February to face charges that he racially abused Ferdinand in that tie. 

Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes and his Blues counterpart Bruce Buck hope to avoid further controversy, with the pair calling for the upcoming west London derby to be a “celebration of football”.

In Hoops team news, defenders Nedum Onuoha and Taye Taiwo are in line to make their respective debuts. Onuoha recently signed from Manchester City, as did Taiwo on a loan deal from AC Milan.

For Chelsea, centre-back Gary Cahill could also make his bow following his protracted switch from Bolton Wanderers.

Midfielder Frank Lampard is expected to miss out with a calf muscle tear but Ghanaian enforcer Michael Essien could return from a long-term injury.

Ivory Coast pair Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are still on Africa Cup of Nations duty.

The Elephants reached the quarter-finals of the event with a 2-0 victory over Burkina Faso on Thursday. Kalou scored the opener but hobbled off just past the hour-mark with a thigh complaint.