( CNN ) -- Chelsea 's star striker Didier Drogba has been suffering from malaria , his club manager revealed on Tuesday , but the Ivory Coast player will still line up for the London derby against Fulham in the English Premier League on Wednesday . Drogba started on the bench for Chelsea 's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday , having missed recent matches against Aston Villa and Spartak Moscow due to a suspected virus . However , the results of blood tests showed that he had in fact contracted the tropical disease . `` A test showed malaria , '' Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti told his club 's official website . `` He lost his condition , he lost power . `` Didier had a difficulty to train because he did n't feel good , he did n't have power to train . He was unselfish to play also when he was not 100 percent . '' But the Italian said Drogba was now back to health and would be fit for the league leaders ' home clash with Fulham on Wednesday . `` He suffered obviously but after treatment , he will be better , '' Ancelotti said . `` One time it was serious , now there is the possibility to treat and come back well . He is okay . Tomorrow he will play . '' Ancelotti said Ghana midfielder Michael Essien would return to the Chelsea line-up , having missed the Liverpool game with a toe problem , but Frank Lampard is not yet ready to make his long-awaited return . The England midfielder , who has been sidelined following a hernia operation , is scheduled to make his comeback against Sunderland on Sunday . `` Lampard has been training with us and he is good . He is able to play ; he is fit because he worked very hard physically , '' Ancelotti said . `` Physically he is 100 percent -- he just has to be comfortable to play with the ball and with his teammates . ' Meanwhile , second-placed Manchester United have been hit by illness and injury ahead of Wednesday 's local derby at Manchester City . United 's website reported on Tuesday that manager Alex Ferguson had yet to finalize his line-up , with several players having been sent home from training . `` So we 're not in a great position at the moment . Hopefully tomorrow we 're better , but there seems to be a lingering aspect of this virus going around and there 's nothing we can do about it . We 've a strong squad and we just carry on , '' Ferguson said . United will be without injured midfielders Nani , Owen Hargreaves and veteran Ryan Giggs . Giggs will miss a Manchester derby for the first time since making his senior debut , the UK Press Association reported , ending a club-record run of 33 appearances against City . City boss Roberto Mancini will be without striker Mario Balotelli , who starts a three-match ban after on Tuesday failing in his bid to have the punishment reduced following his red card against West Brom on Sunday .
Liverpool striker Danny Wilson discovers reason for his recent lack of fitness . Drogba has missed recent matches and started on the bench against Arsenal on Sunday . Manager Carlo Ancelotti says Drogba has contracted malaria but is now recovering well . Manchester United hit by sickness and injury ahead of Wednesday 's local derby .