Everton v Chelsea preview: John Terry may return in FA Cup tie

John Terry could return for Chelsea's FA Cup quarter-final at Everton on Saturday evening following a six-match absence with a hamstring injury.

The Blues captain - who scored a contentious 98th-minute equaliser in this season's Premier League meeting between the two clubs at Stamford Bridge in January - has not featured since hobbling off in the first half of his side's 5-1 victory over Newcastle in mid-February.

Chelsea's only hopes of ending their turbulent campaign with silverware rest in this season's FA Cup following Wednesday's Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

The seven-time cup winners travel to Everton as they bid to reach the semi-finals. Both sides have a rich vein of history in the competition, with Chelsea defeating the Toffees in the 2009 final.

Aaron Lennon and Bryan Oviedo are doubts for the visit of the Premier League champions as Roberto Martinez's side look to bounce back from last weekend's disappointing 3-2 home defeat by West Ham.

Team news

Everton's Kevin Mirallas will miss out through suspension following his red card against the Hammers.

Leighton Baines has been receiving treatment on an ongoing ankle problem but could come in for Oviedo, while Martinez expects Gareth Barry and Tom Cleverley, also recently suffering with illness, to be available.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa is a doubt with a hip injury, while playmaker Eden Hazard is carrying a hip and groin problem but should be fit to feature.

January acquisition Alexandre Pato could make his long-awaited debut, but defender Kurt Zouma (knee) remains out for the season.

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Everton progressed the last time these sides met in the FA Cup, via penalties in a fourth-round replay in 2011.

However, Chelsea have been successful in six of the nine FA Cup ties between the sides, including a 2-1 win in the 2009 final at Wembley.

Everton have scored exactly three goals in their last two home meetings with Chelsea, including a 3-1 win in the Premier League this season.

The Blues have progressed from their last four FA Cup quarter-final ties, going on to win the trophy on three of those occasions (2009, 2010, 2012).

The Toffees have reached this stage for the fourth time in the past five seasons. They progressed in 2012, but went out to Wigan in 2013 and Arsenal in 2014 - both of whom went on to lift the trophy.

Chelsea have netted in seven of their last eight FA Cup away fixtures, scoring 20 goals in total.

Martinez's side have lost three of their last four home games in all competitions, including throwing away a two-goal against West Ham last weekend (2-3).

Guus Hiddink's side have won their last two away games in all competitions, both by a 2-1 scoreline.

Merson's prediction

This all depends on whether Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are available, because Chelsea could be in trouble without them. If they're not fit, I don't see the visitors getting a result.

People will say 'Which Everton will we get - the one that keeps throwing leads away at home or the one that slaughtered Stoke away?'

But if Costa and Hazard don't play, Chelsea are there to be beaten and I don't see anything but an Everton win.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)

Betting

Everton are Sky Bet's marginal favourites at 6/4, with Chelsea 7/4 to progress and 12/5 to earn a replay back at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are currently 3/1 second favourites behind Arsenal (5/2) in the FA Cup outright, with Roberto Martinez's men given a 8/1 chance of lifting the trophy. Subject to fitness, Diego Costa heads the first goalscorer betting at 9/2 while Romelu Lukaku is rated the hosts' main threat at 5/1.