Chelsea will make top four – Mikel

Mikel, 28, replaced Cesc Fabregas to make his 350th showing for the Pensioners, becoming only the 21st player to manage that total for the west London side during the club’s 110-year history, according to the club’s official website.

With only a day’s gap between the games though, it is very likely that Hiddink might change things around at the back in order to keep things fresh.

“I also want to push on and see how many more appearances I can get”.

Chelsea take on United on Monday 28 December at Old Trafford at 5.30pm.

Manchester United have only been plunged into crisis due to their recent poor run, but the champions have struggled all season and languish in 15th after yesterday’s 2-2 home draw with Watford. “We have to cope with that but we will be ready I am sure”.

Hiddink said: “He’s a very young guy”. “It is a pity”.

Costa scored his second on the night in the 65th minute after Ighalo had put Watford ahead eight minutes earlier.

NIGERIAN striker Odion Ighalo on 57 minutes of their game spoilt Chelseas’s revival under care taker coach, Guus Hiddink when his shot took a deflection off Gary Cahill and looped over the keeper and allowed him to celebrate in front of the travelling Watford fans to bring his goals tally to 13 in the lucrative English Premiership League.

Watford, heading into the match with four straight wins, was galvanized by the equalizer and soon forced itself into the lead.

Chelsea were undaunted and levelled the match when Willian, out on the right, found Costa (65) with an inch-perfect low pass and the forward finished adroitly once again, taking one touch to set himself up and then guiding the ball past Heurelho Gomes with his second.

Both sides were unhappy to settle for a point, but the best chance either had for victory was Oscar’s spot kick. What I liked very much was the reaction of the team after two unfortunately conceded goals.