Carlo Ancelotti has, up until now, been a relatively easy man to work with for us Fantasy Managers. Considering the ample resources available to him, rotation hasn’t been a major issue within the Chelsea ranks.

The likes of Carvalho, Malouda and Joe Cole have been the most vulnerable to this point with the injury to Boswinga cementing Branislav Ivanovic’s place in the starting lineup. Despite dismissing the idea on his arrival at the club, Ancelotti has maintained Jose Mourinho’s concept of the untouchables, with Lampard, Terry, Drogba and Anelka all looking secure in the starting lineup each week.

The Chelsea boss has however sent us a reminder that this situation could be subject to change as Chelsea embark on the final third of the season. With the title challenge building to a crescendo and the Champions League ramping up, Ancelotti is hinting that managing player fatigue wil be a major factor. The Chelsea boss goes on to stress that even Terry and Lampard could be in line for a rest if necessary…

“If they [Terry and Lampard] need to rest, they will rest. It is the same question. It doesn’t change anything whether it’s them or anybody else.”

With four league fixtures in eleven days, we can only hope that this “threat” is not timely and that we will find players rested at some point. Given that Chelsea are due to take on Arsenal at the Bridge next Sunday and Everton at Goodison Park four days later, there is perhaps a chance that Terry and Lampard could be targeted for a rest for the trip to Hull this coming Tuesday, the second fixture of Chelsea’s gameweek.

If the Hull fixture had been at Stamford Bridge and had Essien been available to Ancelotti, I think we’d have more to concern us. As it is, Lampard investors should be able to look forward to two fixtures from their man this gameweek. We will need to remain wary of the threat however, particularly when the Champions League camapaign begins again in late February.