David Luiz and Samuel Eto'o have both been ruled out Chelsea's squad for Sunday's game against Southampton.

Brazilian defender David Luiz trained for the first time on Thursday following a knee injury, but the game comes too soon for him.

Eto'o, who picked up a 'grade one' leg strain at Basel in midweek, will be out for about two weeks.

Ashley Cole is fit and available and certain to play a part in the next seven days, even if Cesar Azpilicueta is playing well enough to retain his place.

That is because Jose Mourinho wants to avoid a repeat of the tired-looking performance at Basel when he retained players who had done well at West Ham three days earlier, rather than freshen up the team with rested bodies.

“There are lots of matches now. Now it’s time for everybody to feel they have a chance. We play Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday – Southampton,Sunderland and Stoke. SSS.

"So the SSS week, Ash will play for sure and will have the chance to show that he's fine.

“His attitude is phenomenal. The same attitude as when he trained with me for the first time. He has a fantastic attitude.

"He went through a difficult period, yes, and Azpilicueta is playing fantastic, but Ashley’s attitude is an example.”

The Chelsea boss is eager for his side to make amends for the poor showing at Basel, but expects this season's surprise package, Southampton, to provide another testing afternoon.

“I think Mauricio [Pochettino, the Saints boss] started last season some good work with them and he had the possibility this summer to adapt the squad to his needs and this is important.

“When you finish your first season, you’re much better prepared to understand the needs and the profile of your purchases.

“His team is very compact, it’s very solid. They are doing very very well. Can they finish top four? I think it’s very difficult. Because it’s difficult for the six title contenders, so imagine for the teams that come behind.

"But the team is very very good and for sure the match on Sunday will be very difficult for us, although normally it will be more difficult for them.”