Essien and Fletcher omitted from Champions League squads

The Chelsea and Manchester United veterans
are the highest-profile names to fail to make
the cut as the Premier League's top teams
finalise their group-stage rosters
Michael Essien and Darren Fletcher have both
been omitted from their clubs' 25-man squads
for the Champions League group stage.
The Ghanaian had been reunited with Jose
Mourinho at Chelsea after spending last season
on loan at Real Madrid but has been an unused
substitute in three of the Blues' first four
matches this term and now has missed out on
the opening phase of continental play.
Fletcher, meanwhile, has made only 13
appearances for Manchester United since his
2011 diagnosis with ulcerative colitis and looks
set to spend more time away from the pitch.
The 29-year-old was hoped to be nearing a
return to action but his lack of inclusion in
David Moyes's group-stage squad indicates the
Scot may not be ready to play until 2014.
Previously in August, Fletcher had stated that
he had been practicing self-imposed exile from
the Red Devils' training ground in Carrington as
he waited for his surgeon to clear him to
return to training.
Youngster Adnan Januzaj, who caught the eye
in United's tour of Asia this summer, is also
left out of the Champions League squad, while
new faces Marouane Fellaini and Wilfried Zaha
have made the cut.