Anelka can still become a world force, says Mikael

However, Forssell is convinced Chelsea boss Avram Grant landed a bargain when he signed Anelka from Bolton for £15million last week and he ranks the 28-year-old alongside the Brazilian Ronaldo in his prime.

"Nicolas Anelka is a great signing," said Forssell, who is set to face the Frenchman when his Birmingham side host Chelsea tomorrow.

"My footballing hero is Ronaldo and I see great similarities between him and Anelka.

"They both have the knack of not being involved in a game for 80 minutes and then suddenly popping up with something special.

"That makes Anelka my type of striker. He possesses unbelievable talent and is up there with the best."

"But you look at Chelsea's squad now, with Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard missing, and you think this is the time that you would actually choose to play them.

"That said, they can still call on some very good players and no one is better than Anelka."

While injuries and the African Nations' Cup mean Chelsea will be forced to field a weakened side tomorrow, Birmingham go into the game full of confidence following their 1-1 draw at Arsenal last week.

"Our best results and performances this season have come against the bigger clubs," said Forssell.

"We can't explain why that is, but we felt we could even have nicked a win at Arsenal, could have got a draw at Manchester United earlier this month [they lost 1-0], and should have got something when we lost 3-2 at Chelsea on the opening day of the season."

Forssell has been impressed by the impact Alex McLeish has made at Birmingham since the former Scotland boss took charge in November.

"We are still in transition between the old-style Birmingham and the new-style one, but Chelsea will find us full of confidence," said the striker.

"Alex McLeish has passion and commitment and that's what a manager needs in the Premier League. It's all about passion and desire first and foremost, then it comes down to players and their individual skill. A win tomorrow would be awesome, although we know how difficult that will be.

"We would settle for a point because it's tight at the bottom of the table and we are one of eight teams fighting it out to stay up. Any points you can take off the top clubs could be crucial.

"I still think Chelsea can win the title. Arsenal and Manchester United play attractive football, but Chelsea are still the strongest tactically because they play a more defensive European style."

Forssell's own prospects since joining Birmingham for a fee of £3m two-and-a-half years ago are finally looking brighter after a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.

And the striker with four Premier League goals to his name this season, believes he has his own point to prove.

He said: "I've been unlucky with injuries since coming over to England, but that's a word I'm now putting behind me, and I feel my best is still to come.

"Every day is a new opportunity for me. I had six years at Chelsea, which is a long time, and in my best year scored nine goals.

"I spent a lot of time out on loan, but I felt I played my part and it was a good time in my career."