Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack could make his first appearance for eight months when The Blues take on Liverpool in the Carling Cup quarter final on Wednesday night.

Germany international Ballack has not played since sustaining an ankle injury in August but has been included in Avram Grant's squad ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge.

Grant now hopes Ballack has put his injury ordeal behind him and that he will again begin to show the form that made him one of world football's most in-demand stars when Chelsea snapped him up on a free transfer in 2006.

"He's available," said Grant ahead of the game against Liverpool. "He's a very good player, we missed him and we want him to be available.

"It's not easy to come back after such a long injury but he's a good character and a good player."