Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that defender Gary Cahill will miss Saturday's match with Crystal Palace because he "needs to protect him".

Cahill has made 23 appearances for club and country so far this season, and Mourinho believes that it is important for the England international to recover from niggling injuries.

The 50-year-old told reporters: "He's almost injured, we need to protect him.

"I think that it's important to try not to kill some players by playing them every minute of every game, even if they are the most important players."

David Luiz is likely to deputise for Cahill after returning from a bruised patella in midweek.