John Terry has told Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo he is in the right frame of mind to play against QPR on Sunday and is available for selection.
Terry is going into the west London derby under huge scrutiny on two fronts for his latest misery in the Champions League and his reunion with Anton Ferdinand.
He has come under huge criticism for his red card offence in Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona in midweek.
The England international has admitted he was in the wrong and is believed to still be feeling devastated that he will be suspended for the final against Bayern Munich on May 19.
His Chelsea team-mates are pushing for him to be given special dispensation to join them on the podium to lift the trophy should they beat the German club, but Standard Sport understands Terry has not made the request himself and will accept any decision Uefa make on the matter today.
Despite his heartbreak on being banned for the final, he wants to bounce back against QPR and help them get the win they need to maintain their challenge for a top four place.
But he is up against Ferdinand, the man who he is accused of racially abusing in their first League encounter at Loftus Road in October, which has led to him facing a court case in July.
It has been reported that Ferdinand and the rest of the QPR players are considering snubbing his handshake in the pre-match ritual.
Yet Terry, who played against QPR in Chelsea’s FA Cup Fourth Round victory earlier this year, is not going to let that put him off and he is ready to face them again.
