Carlo Ancelotti boosted by return of Joe Cole for derby cup clash

Simon Johnson
22 Sep 2009

Chelsea first-team coach Ray Wilkins says the Blues will only get stronger now that Joe Cole and Yuri Zhirkov are back from injury.

Both players will make their first starts of the season against QPR in the Carling Cup tomorrow night having finally recovered from knee problems.

Cole hasn't featured since he suffered ligament damage against Southend eight months ago, while Zhirkov, who joined from CSKA Moscow for £18million in the summer, has had a long wait for his competitive debut.

Chelsea have climbed to the top of the Premier League without them, having won six straight games, but Wilkins believes the duo will make the team even harder to beat.

He said: “Joe and Yuri are both starting against QPR which is good news. They will be very important players for us for the rest of the season.

“Any side in the country will miss a player of Joe's ability. He has that bit of fantasy that can open up defences. We've managed to cope without Joe but he will give us something different.

“Yuri is a very talented footballer and is a great mover. He's been out for quite a period and we're looking forward to seeing him demonstrate what he can do. From what I've seen of him in training he's an excellent player.”

Chelsea are expected to make a number of changes to the squad that beat Tottenham on Sunday and are
set to name some youth players in tomorrow night's starting XI.

The Blues have usually fielded strong teams in the Carling Cup but will be using this season's competition to fast-track some youngsters in light of FIFA's transfer ban.

Jeffrey Bruma, Fabio Borini and Sam Hutchinson are all in contention for a starting role tomorrow and Wilkins added: “Carlo Ancelotti has watched the majority of the reserve team games and they are three players who have impressed. This competition gives us an opportunity to bring them in.

“It's also a great opportunity for the young men at the club to realise we can't bring anyone else in, although we are appealing against FIFA's decision, and they can push themselves forward.”

Wilkins also has confirmed striker Didier Drogba suffered only cramp against Tottenham and will be fit to face Wigan on Sunday. But Daniel Sturridge will miss out after picking up a calf injury in training.

The news on Drogba will delight boss Ancelotti who said today that he has been blown away by the striker's impact since he arrived at the club.

Ancelotti said: “There is a word in Italy: trascinatore. It means the player that pulls the group together.

“Gennaro Gattuso was the trascinatore at Milan. John Terry is a trascinatore at Chelsea, but Drogba, too.

“There are leaders that speak a lot. Before the match, he can do this, but then he leads by example with the way he plays.

“This happened from the start for me. I did not have to talk to him; straight away he was like that. There was never a chance he would leave. He is far too important for us.

“I know some see him as a prima donna, but the difference between a prima donna and a leader is a centimetre. The leader uses his talent for the team, the prima donna for himself. Drogba has never been a prima donna for me.”