Megson: There's no weakness at Chelsea

Having conceded top spot to Liverpool in the Premier League table, Chelsea face a test of character against Megson's in-form team at the Reebok Stadium tomorrow.

Scolari's side have failed to win five of their last seven games in all competititons, a damaging run which has also seen them eliminated from the Carling Cup and left a question mark over their Champions League ambitions.

But Megson believes too much is being made of Chelsea's woes after revealing that the scouting reports which landed on his desk at the start of this week made terrifying reading.

"We watch teams three times before we play them and one of the scouting reports we got back shows us what we're up against this weekend," said the Bolton boss, who has masterminded four wins in the last five games.

"We outlined Chelsea's strengths and weaknesses and one of them came back with the words 'None seen in this game' next to their weaknesses. They must have been playing well that day!

"They have got class players all over the pitch and Scolari will turn it around - if there is anything to be turned around in the first place.

"I can see that people are questioning Scolari over a couple of results, but anyone who thinks Chelsea aren't going to finish in the top four is from cloud cuckoo land. He has won a World Cup and nobody should doubt his ability."

Megson said that among the many things scribbled in the column next Chelsea's strengths was the familiar name of Nicolas Anelka.

It had all the ingredients for a marriage made in hell when Megson, who has a reputation for dealing firmly with stroppy players, inherited a dressingroom which included the French striker famously dubbed 'Le Sulk'.

Yet far from the explosive confrontations which were predicted, Anelka turned out to be one of the most professional players Megson has managed.

Their working relationship lasted three months before Anelka moved to Chelsea in January, a transfer which netted Bolton £15million.

Anelka, 29, returns to the Reebok, where he scored 21 times in 53 Premier League games, the leading scorer in the Premier League with 12 goals, and no one will be more delighted to shake his hand than Megson.

He added: "Like everybody else I had a perception of him that had been painted by the media, but I have to say it couldn't be further from the truth.

"The nickname 'Le Sulk' certainly didn't apply in the short time I worked with him at Bolton. He's actually a really good lad, he loves his football and he didn't cause me any problems."

Megson's words are supported by Gary Speed, who spent three-and-a-half years at Bolton and played alongside Anelka during the 2006-07 season, which saw Wanderers clinch UEFA Cup qualification.

Speed, who claimed that Anelka should be paired with Didier Drogba when the Ivorian's three-match suspension ends, said: "The best partnership I have seen was between Duncan Ferguson and Alan Shearer when I was at Newcastle, and Drogba and Anelka could be equally effective.

"Nicolas was a lovely guy both on and off the pitch at Bolton, a respectful, thoughtful man.

"I would rank him alongside Alan Shearer. He has become an even better player since going to Chelsea, and is certainly one of the best strikers in the league."

Anelka's departure looked like backfiring on Bolton, who paid Toulouse £10million for Johan Elmander in the summer, but after a slow start, the Swede has scored three goals in his last two games.