John Terry and Frank Lampard do not take kindly to missing matches. The England pair do not do “rested”. Yet that is the position they will find themselves in when Chelsea take on Bolton Wanderers in the Carling Cup fourth round at Stamford Bridge this evening.

Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, may have risked incurring the private wrath of his workaholic on-field generals, but the Italian believes it is for the greater good of club and country.

“If I have a possibility to give rest to the players, above all those who play in their national teams, it’s better,” Ancelotti said yesterday. “They want to play every game, even this season, but for them it’s better sometimes to rest.

“A player on the bench might still play 45 or even 80 minutes. Frank is not disappointed. He realises it’s important for him to give his body some recovery time. He’s not a young player. He’s not so young, no?”

At least Lampard, 31, may get some time on the field. Ancelotti has named the midfield player among his substitutes, just in case Bolton manage to trouble his mix-and-match line-up. For Terry, 28, the Chelsea and England captain, a seat in the stands awaits.

Fabio Capello, the England manager, may benefit from his countryman’s policy. “At the end of May, I think Terry and Lampard will be in very good condition and have a fantastic World Cup,” Ancelotti said.