Avram Grant ready for Mikel showdown

Everton have already secured the agreement of the Nigerian FA for Ayegbeni Yakubu and Joseph Yobo to delay their flight to the African Nations' Cup so that they can line up at Stamford Bridge and Grant wants equal treatment.

He said: "If the Nigerian players play for Everton, so John Mikel will play for us. It will not be one club 'yes' and one club 'no'."

He was resigned, however, to losing Didier Drogba, who made his first appearance for Chelsea in nine games when he came on as substitute in Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup win over Queens Park Rangers.

Drogba, who showed no ill effects from his knee operation, left yesterday to join up with the Ivory Coast squad - but he was a reluctant traveller.

"It's a difficult situation," he said, "because we have a big competition coming up as well as some big games with Chelsea. But I won't be here.

"It's not the best period, it's not a period I really like because it is very difficult to be away and then think about Chelsea. It is not easy."

It was also a reflection of Chelsea's uninspired performance that Drogba assumed command of the captain's armband, which had been worn for the first time by Ashley Cole.

Grant's decision to strip Cole of the captaincy mid-match is said to have left the England international angry and embarrassed and follows on from the Chelsea manager preferring Wayne Bridge at left back for the last two Premier League matches.

If Cole wanted a message that he needed to pull his socks up, Grant provided it.

Grant said: "Didier is a leader. Many players that are leaders here did not play, so we gave it to Ashley because I think he is a good example for all the others. I like him, so he deserved to be the captain, but there are other options for leaders in the team."

Cole will get a clearer indication of his future if he is selected against Everton. Bridge has been playing well enough to win his place back for a match that should see Chelsesa field a strong side.

On Saturday, the Blues proved too strong for West London neighbours QPR, who have just found themselves in the money thanks to Flavio Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and steel-magnate Lakshmi Mittal.

Their billions could not buy a win, though and it was a cruel misfortune in the form of a deflection off the back of goalkeeper Lee Camp after Claudio Pizarro's shot had hit the left-hand post that gifted Chelsea a 28th minute winner.

Roman Abramovich may now be forced to get his wallet out in the absence of Drogba. And with Salomon Kalou, also of the Ivory Coast, Ghana's Michael Essien and Mikel all committed to the African Nations' Cup, speculation continued today surrounding an £11million bid by Chelsea for Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka. But Grant refused to confirm his intentions, insisting: "I will not speak about any players until something is finalised."

Bolton's Gary Megson, who did not include Anelka in the side that went out of the FA Cup to Championship contenders Sheffield United, claimed: "There has been no official approach from anyone for Nic."

Meanwhile, the Stamford Bridge derby between Chelsea and Tottenham scheduled for next Monday has been brought forward to Saturday so that Spurs can fit in their FA Cup replay against Reading tomorrow week.