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LONDON. — Chelsea playmaker Cesc Fabregas is likely to be back for the home game with Everton in the English Premier League tonight after missing two matches with a hamstring problem.

“I think he plays on Wednesday (today) because on Saturday it was a decision to protect him,” manager Jose Mourinho told the club website (www.chelseafc.com).

“We didn’t want to risk two players at the same time. We risked Willian and to start two players with a risk is a big gamble,” added Mourinho in reference to the 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at the weekend.

Fabregas’ expected return will present the manager with something of a dilemma because Brazilian Ramires has excelled as his midfield deputy after a season plagued by injury.

“The best Ramires is back and the best Ramires played against Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa,” said Mourinho. “He is a different profile of player but a fantastic player for us.”

Ramires came on when Fabregas limped off midway through Chelsea’s League Cup semi-final second leg victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago.

The Londoners sprinted seven points clear at the top of the league after defender Branislav Ivanovic grabbed the second-half winner with a ferocious shot at Villa.

“Every striker in the world would be proud to score that magnificent goal,” said Mourinho. “For a right back whose left foot is not his best it is an amazing goal.

“He is a great guy and what he is doing for us is unbelievable with the foot injury he had against Liverpool when he still played the rest of the game, and he also played against City and Villa.

“He is one of the best signings. He came immediately after I left Chelsea and after that he made a fantastic contribution for this club.”

Serbian international Ivanovic, who can also play in central defence, joined Chelsea from Lokomotiv Moscow in 2008, just after Mourinho’s first spell at the club ended.

Meanwhile, Mourinho says he thinks one of his players would have been banned if they had used his elbow in the way another Premier League player did at the weekend. Chelsea forward Diego Costa was handed a three-match suspension last month by the Football Association after they found him guilty of violent conduct for stamping on Emre Can during a match against Liverpool.

On the same day Mourinho, who refused to name the player involved at the weekend, was fined £25 000 for suggesting there was a “campaign” being conducted against Chelsea.

He subsequently opted out of media duties around the next match against title rivals Manchester City, before reappearing last Friday.

And he faced the media again yesterday, ahead of tonight’s meeting with Everton, but remains frustrated by the FA’s disciplinary policies.

“I was in a good mood the other day,” Mourinho said. “I needed a little bit more time to forget why my player (Costa) was suspended.

“I need a little bit more time to understand why some people are punished, others aren’t. I need a little bit of time to process that.

“The same people that suspended my player didn’t want to suspend a player this weekend. This weekend he could.”

Asked who he was referring to, Mourinho just gestured with his elbow. “I know that if it was one of mine, I know. Last season the same thing happened when Ramires was suspended,” he said.

“It was exactly the same thing. One week later a Manchester City player kicked a player on the floor at Norwich and nothing happened.”

That was a reference to a challenge by City midfielder Yaya Toure on Ricky van Wolswinkel.

Mourinho also hinted that he thinks he would have faced sanctions if he had grabbed a player in the manner Leicester boss Nigel Pearson did on Saturday.

“No comments,” said the Chelsea boss. “You know.”

Fabregas will be back for Chelsea when Everton visit tonight but Costa will be serving the final game of his ban.

Asked if Fabregas was fit to return, Mourinho said: “Yes. The team played without him and we coped with the situation but, obviously, to have him back is important for us.

“Injured, we have only Mikel, with a problem in his knee. He is the only one who is not in condition to play tomorrow (tonight).

“We don’t have the player who is suspended so we have to stick with Didier (Drogba) and (Loic) Remy. We need the suspended player but we coped without him.”

Today’s English

Premiership Fixtures:

Chelsea v Everton (9:45pm); Manchester United v Burnley (9:45pm); Southampton v West Ham (9:45pm); Stoke City v Manchester City (9:45pm); Crystal Palace v Newcastle (10pm); West Brom v Swansea (10pm). — Reuters-Sky Sports.