Turnbull to go Inter the fire

Turnbull: Ancelotti faith

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Ross Turnbull is set to be thrust into the limelight with Chelsea having been plunged into a goalkeeper crisis.

First-choice keeper Petr Cech was forced off with a calf strain in the 2-1 UEFA Champions League defeat at Inter Milan last month.

And Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Turnbull is likely to start the return leg on Tuesday following an injury to back-up keeper Hilario.

The Portuguese veteran filled in against Manchester City and Stoke but suffered a groin injury in last week's FA Cup win against the Potters and with Cech not yet back in full training, Turnbull is set to make his first Premier League appearance for the Blues against West Ham on Saturday.

The 25-year-old has made just 98 career appearances and only played twice since his free transfer from Middlesbrough last summer, but Ancelotti insists he has faith in the inexperienced keeper.

"We have a problem with the goalkeepers," admitted Ancelotti. "We don't know if Hilario or Petr are able to play on Tuesday.

"Tomorrow (Saturday) I want to put the best line-up out because it's an important game. We don't have to think about the Inter game.

Injury problems

"We need to win and go back to the top of the table, so I want to put the best players out, but we have problems.

"Michael Essien, Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa are out. Also, Ricardo Carvalho and Hilario are not able to play.

"Cech is doing physiotherapy. He did not train on the pitch, so it's very difficult for him to recover for Tuesday.

"Hilario had a problem against Stoke and has not been able to train this week.

"So, in goal, Turnbull will play, and on the bench will go Rhys Taylor, our young goalkeeper from the reserve team.

"I'm not worried," added the Chelsea chief. "The performance of the team does not rely upon the goalkeeper.

"I don't want to say we can play without a goalkeeper, because that's an important player for the team, but I have confidence in Turnbull.

"He has not played a lot of games this season but, with the work with our goalkeeping coach, he has improved very well.

"I have no problem about playing Turnbull against Inter Milan."