Kalou - could get chance for Chelsea. By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will turn to Salomon Kalou to solve his striker crisis after injuries to Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba marred the champions' win at Sheffield United.
Drogba limped out of the 2-0 Bramall Lane win at half-time with a foot problem, while Shevchenko failed to make the squad after injuring a leg muscle in training.
The strike duo are doubtful for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Barcelona, although both have travelled to Spain with the rest of the squad.
It was left to Frank Lampard to inspire his side to victory, grabbing the opener from a 41st minute free-kick and setting up Michael Ballack's second after Hilario saved Danny Webber's early penalty.
Mourinho insisted any anxiety over the fitness of his main strike pair ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League return in Barcelona was tempered by his growing belief in the 21-year-old Ivorian.
Mourinho said: "Kalou is available and he is improving a lot. He is sometimes a bit naive in his actions but he is a kid with a lot of qualities and to play in Barcelona could be a big occasion for him."
Mourinho has less concern over his goalkeeping situation, with third-choice Hilario once again vindicating his manager's confidence by diving low to his left to deny the Blades the lead.
Mourinho had preferred Hilario to the fit-again Carlo Cudicini, and said there were no guarantees he would change things again at the Nou Camp after another impressive display.
Mourinho added: "I choose the one I think will work for us.
"He (Hilario) is amazing.
He is cool and comfortable in goal and I think the penalty save was a three-point save. You never know if Sheffield United are 1-0 up."
Neil Warnock's men had every right to feel short-changed as they entered the half-time break behind after a sterling effort in which Webber's missed spot-kick was one of a number of close calls.
What the Blades lacked in quality they made up for in effort. Nick Montgomery, who replaced the injured Michael Tonge within the first five minutes, got down the right with purpose.
And Alan Quinn caused problems from the other flank, delivering the cross from which Drogba was adjudged to have fouled United's excellent Claude Davis in the box.
While Warnock bemoaned his side's continuing penalty woe - they could ill afford their third miss of the season - he will have been heartened by their response as Quinn and Rob Hulse both came close.
Davis blocked an Arjen Robben cross and Ballack had an effort tipped around the post but Chelsea seldom threatened before Lampard's long-range free kick deceived Paddy Kenny with a wicked bounce and found the net.
Five minutes after the break a potentially tumultuous contest reached its premature conclusion when Ballack stole in at the far post to head home Lampard's lofted cross from the right from point-blank range.
With Drogba already on the treatment table and minds shifting to Tuesday's assignment, Chelsea shut up shop and were content to soak up Blades pressure in a largely uneventful second half.
Warnock insisted his side could learn plenty of lessons from their experience, and called on his players to become more cynical in order to achieve a more favourable return from referees.
The Blades boss said: "Ballack must have committed so many fouls and he never got a yellow card because he is Michael Ballack and he has got that kind of authority.
"We are a little bit naive. Their players sometimes go down where we stumble on and we have to catch up with the Premiership level of what to do in certain situations."
However Warnock conceded quality had oozed from Chelsea despite their low-key start to the match, and added: "I think they have got the guts to play against teams like us.
"They know they have got the quality and they knew they had to roll their sleeves up. That is why they have won the Championship for the last two years and you have to got to hold your hands up to that.
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