Six Chelsea stars return for USA friendlies

After playing in the final game of a three-match tour of Asia in Jakarta last Thursday, Chelsea travelled to Washington DC today boosted by the return of six players who missed the previous trip due to their Confederations Cup commitments this summer - Brazil duo Luiz and Oscar, Spain trio Torres, Mata and Cesar Azpilicueta and John Obi Mikel of Nigeria.

The futures of Luiz, Mata and Torres, in particular, have been in doubt, but Mourinho insists he has no intention of selling any member of his squad.

Luiz and Mata had been linked with Manchester United in a swap deal for Wayne Rooney, claims angrily denied by Chelsea, while the pursuit of the England striker has put Torres' position in sharp focus.

But all six made the trip across the Atlantic after meeting up with Mourinho for the first time on Sunday.

Henrique Hilario was included as one of four goalkeepers in the 25-man group for the tour, which begins with a match against Mourinho's former club Inter Milan in Indianapolis on Thursday and concludes on August 10 in Washington against Roma.

Hilario was on the Premier League's released list last month and his status at Chelsea is uncertain, amid suggestions he would be handed a new one-year contract.

Defender Tomas Kalas missed the trip due to injury, while Josh McEachran, Sam Walker, Nathaniel Chalobah, Lucas Piazon and Islam Feruz were on the Asia tour but have not been selected for the USA.

McEachran, Chalobah and Piazon are poised to be sent out on loan for the forthcoming season.

Chelsea squad: Petr Cech, Mark Schwarzer, Henrique Hilario, Jamal Blackman; Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta, Ryan Bertrand, David Luiz; John Mikel Obi, Michael Essien, Oscar, Ramires, Frank Lampard, Marco van Ginkel, Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Victor Moses, Andre Schurrle, Kevin De Bruyne; Fernando Torres, Romelu Lukaku, Demba Ba.

Source: PA

Source: PA