Drogba boost for Chelsea attack

2008-08-22 20:41

Cobham - Didier Drogba could be back from injury in nine days, joining Nicolas Anelka and Andriy Shevchenko as attacking options for Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea, the Brazilian coach said on Friday.

Scolari said he also expected Shevchenko to remain at Chelsea despite the Ukraine striker's attempts to move back to AC Milan.

"Drogba is better... he has been working every day with the fitness coach. I think next Sunday it would be difficult for him but maybe against Tottenham (August 31) he could play 30 to 45 minutes," Scolari said at the club's training ground.

Chelsea have also made a bid for Real Madrid's Robinho but Scolari said he had no more news of how negotiations were going.

Drogba's Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic had suggested on Wednesday that the striker would be out for another six weeks with his knee injury.

Scolari said it would take time to integrate Shevchenko, who has failed to shine since arriving two seasons ago from Milan where he had seven successful years.

The Ukrainian needed more confidence "maybe more confidence with me... and more time," Scolari said.

On Thursday AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani said talks on returning Shevchenko had broken down because the Italian side wanted him on loan while Chelsea sought a direct sale.

Scolari said Ghana midfielder Michael Essien, who missed Chelsea's opening Premier League game of the season, a 4-0 rout of Portsmouth, would be fit for Sunday's match at Wigan Athletic.

Michael Ballack, who limped off against Portsmouth and missed international duty with Germany on Wednesday with an ankle injury, should also be ready to play, the Brazilian added.

- Reuters