However, the main news of Chelsea’s week has concerned Mark Bosnich, admitted to hospital suffering from “severe clinical depression” amid claims the Australian goalkeeper has failed a drug test for cocaine.

Chelsea effectively gagged Ranieri today – and asked by the Press Association if Bosnich’s situation had affected his team, he said: “The players are ready to play.

“But I’ve been asked not speak anymore about this. I’m sorry.”

On the field, the hot issue ahead of tomorrow’s battle of the tight defences is Hasselbaink’s possible participation.

The Blues have kept clean sheets in their last four Barclaycard Premiership games, providing the foundation for their surge into third spot.

Boro have conceded just 10 goals in 13 League games this season – with last weekend’s 1-0 success against Liverpool lifting them up to sixth.

Hasselbaink is eager to return but faces competition from Eidur Gudjohnsen, Gianfranco Zola and Carlton Cole for the two striking berths.

Ranieri said: “Jimmy is ready to play and I’m very happy with him. He’s worked very hard this week, which is important.

“I have a good selection of strikers and it’s important to have all of them in good condition.

“Both forwards (Gudjohnsen and Zola) scored goals in our last match against Birmingham. Jimmy hasn’t scored many so far, but now he can.”

As for Boro’s excellent form over the first third of the season, Ranieri said: “They’re the best defence, having only conceded 10 goals. They’re good tactically and are a very strong team.

“They play on the counter-attack and this match will be very dangerous. They’ve improved a lot this season but won’t surprise us as we know them very well.

“Massimo Maccarone is a very important player for them. Middlesbrough did very, very good business to buy him.

“I think he went to Boro as in Italy, for the first time, there wasn’t enough money to pay for him.”

Boro boss Steve McClaren, who quit as England’s part-time assistant coach a fortnight ago, will have extra time to work with his players when Sven-Goran Eriksson and his 26-man squad are at their three-day get together in Hertfordshire next week.

However, Ranieri warned McClaren of the frustration of club training in international weeks, when many players are missing.

He said: “Only Steve can say if leaving England has helped Boro. With England, he would stay with them for two or three days.

“But like me, when everybody goes to international games, I have very few players at training. I cannot work very well when most of my players are abroad on international duty.”

Ranieri is determined to avoid a late-season slump from his side, and similar to their dip at the end of the last campaign.

“Our focus is on fighting for the top four places, but last season we were in third or fourth and then ended up sixth,” he added.

“I am an ambitious man and want everything to improve. The top four places will be decided in the last month or six weeks of the season.”

Winger Boudewijn Zenden has trained all week after his sprained ankle but is not in the squad tomorrow.

Goalkeeper Ed de Goey is still not fully fit after problems with back spasms, while outcast Winston Bogarde faces three weeks on the sidelines with his sprained ankle.