LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea goalkeepers Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini are the closest among a long list of injured players to being fit for Tuesday's League Cup semi-final first leg at home to Everton.

After Chelsea began the defence of their FA Cup trophy with a 1-0 win over Championship (second division) side Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, manager Avram Grant said it was too early to tell if any of his injured outfield players would be fit for Tuesday.

"We will have (Portugal defender) Ricardo Carvalho back from suspension...but for the others we will know tomorrow," the Israeli coach told reporters.

"The goalkeepers are closest to being fit."

Chelsea, who are also League Cup holders, will lose several players including African Footballer of the Year Didier Drogba, fellow Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou, Ghana's Michael Essien and Nigeria's John Obi Mikel to this month's African Nations Cup.

Drogba played for the first time in more than a month on Saturday, coming on as a second-half substitute against west London neighbours QPR.

KNEE SURGERY

The experienced striker, who had knee surgery last month, will join Ivory Coast's squad before Tuesday's game.

"It was important he play for us, even for a short time," Grant said.

Nigeria may allow Mikel to play on Tuesday before joining up for the tournament which starts on January 20 in Ghana.

Chelsea captain John Terry, who broke three bones in his foot against Arsenal last month, was still on crutches on Saturday.

Vice captain Frank Lampard (thigh), winger Florent Malouda (knee), midfielder Claude Makelele (ear operation) and striker Andriy Shevchenko (foot) are also injured.

The absence of Cech (hip) and Cudicini (rib) has allowed third-string keeper Henrique Hilario to play three games in a row, conceding two goals.

Grant said losing his African quartet at the same time as having a string of injuries meant Chelsea were looking seriously at bringing players in during this month's transfer window.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)