Chelsea Football Club News

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Roberto Di Matteo

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42,440

Blues challenge for Drogba

12 Nov 2008 - 09:04:31

Click To Enlarge

Chelsea assistant first-team coach Ray Wilkins has backed Didier Drogba to rise to the challenge of fighting in-form strike partner Nicolas Anelka for a starting spot.

The Ivory Coast striker is poised to replace Anelka in the starting line-up for Wednesday's Carling Cup fourth round meeting with Burnley after recovering from a knee injury picked up at the beginning of October.

In Drogba's absence, Anelka has blossomed with the Frenchman scoring 11 times already this season.

But Wilkins expects the former Marseille striker to stake his claim for a starting berth with a determined return to action.

He said: "Didier has this in-built determination to succeed.

"I don't think he will lie down lightly, he will come back with all guns blazing.

"He has looked very sharp over the last couple of days so he probably feels he is ready to take part in a full 90 minutes.

"It is up to the guy who is in charge of the shirt to make sure he stays in it."

Meanwhile, Wilkins insists the Blues will not under-estimate the challenge posed by the Championship side with a quarter-final place up for grabs.

"We as a club think it is an important competition. That is why will put out a side of extreme quality and hopefully get the job done," he continued.

"Last year, the lads finished second in the Premier League and reached the final of the Champions League and Carling Cup but they didn't win anything.

"They are smarting from not winning anything last year. They just want to win. They have that attitude and are extremely professional young men."