Finally ready for his debut, Yuri Zhirkov is out to make up for lost time

Simon Johnson
23 Sep 2009

Yuri Zhirkov is no stranger to having to cope with tough starts in life, yet the Russian international is desperate to make up for lost time when he finally takes to the field for his official Chelsea debut against QPR in the Carling Cup tonight.

Since completing an £18million transfer from CSKA Moscow to Chelsea in July, one misfortune after another has befallen the 26-year-old.

From work permit issues delaying his participation in the club's pre-season tour in the USA to sustaining an irritating knee injury after a promising display in a friendly against AC Milan, it would be fair to say that things haven't gone to plan so far.

However, Zhirkov is renowned for his patience and his difficult upbringing has certainly helped keep two months of setbacks at Chelsea in perspective.

He grew up in poor surroundings in the Russian city of Tambov, sharing a one-room flat with his parents, two brothers and a sister, and back then his football dreams were played out whenever he could escape to the yard outside.

Just having enough to eat was his primary concern as a youngster, so it is no surprise that he has concentrated on his rehabilitation at Chelsea's training ground and focused on the positives.

He said: "This is Chelsea, I don't think anything needs to be said about the club. Everything is done at the highest level here. You have the best players here and the best facilities at the training ground and now I have to prove I am at this level too.

"I would say this is probably the best League in the world and I know pretty much everything there is to know from watching the games."

If things had worked out differently he would be working as an electrician in his homeland right now rather than planning to give QPR's defence a bit of a shock with his pace and skill on the left flank.

He was studying the trade before making the breakthrough at Russian Second Division side Spartak Tambov and now his challenge is to show he is value for money, rather than struggling to just make some.

Owner Roman Abramovich is not the only one convinced he will do just that with Russia coach Guus Hiddink, who managed Chelsea for three months last season, expecting him to be a big success.

Hiddink gave the signing his seal of approval before he stepped down at the end of May and has been following Zhirkov's progress, or lack of it so far, closely.

The Dutchman was back at the club's training ground two weeks ago to visit old friends and also to see how Zhirkov had settled into life at Chelsea. He discovered that Zhirkov is still relying heavily on Serbian international Branislav Ivanovic to speak Russian with him and explain what is required both on and off the pitch.

It was Hiddink who made Zhirkov more versatile by playing him at left back for Russia and he proved in Euro 2008, when they reached the semi-finals, that he can be a useful weapon from deep.

Yet if he has his way, he will be positioned ahead of Ashley Cole in a Chelsea shirt this season and on the evidence of his display against AC Milan in July, where he scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 victory, it is where he belongs.

Zhirkov will be joined in the starting XI tonight by Joe Cole against a QPR team coming to terms with Flavio Briatore's ban from Formula One and it's possible repercussions for the club.

It remains to be seen if the Italian will be allowed to continue as the club's owner but QPR striker Rowan Vine insists the players' focus will only be on playing Chelsea tonight and had a warning for Ancelotti if he decides to rest too many of his star names.

The striker said: "You always see upsets occur in the cup competitions and the Carling Cup especially tends to see the big sides resting a couple of players here and there.

"We've performed well against Premier League opposition over the last couple of years, so we will certainly be believing that we can get something out of the tie."