LONDON – Chelsea captain John Terry could make his first start since November in Sunday’s home Premier League clash with Arsenal after interim boss Rafael Benitez called for “players with character” on the pitch.

The centre back has been dogged by a knee problem but is in line to return as third-placed Chelsea bid to get their Premier League campaign back on track after a lacklustre 2-2 home draw with Southampton when Terry was a substitute.

A good way to get the restless fans back on board is to bring back a tough-tackling club hero for a full-bloodied city derby with rivals Arsenal (1330 BST).

Former Liverpool boss Benitez was appointed only until the end of the season after Champions League-winning manager Roberto Di Matteo was sacked in November. He has never been popular with fans and was reminded of the ruthlessness of football when Southampton fired manager Nigel Adkins on Friday despite Wednesday’s strong fightback.

A win on Sunday will go a little way to placating his supporters if they stretch the gap in the Champions League places but Benitez is expecting a difficult game despite sixth-placed Arsenal’s inconsistencies this term.

Benitez refused to be drawn on whether in-form new signing Demba Ba would continue to lead the line or whether Fernando Torres might return to the starting XI either to partner the Senegalese or replace him.