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Yury Zhirkov has been hit by homesickness since joining Chelsea from CSKA Moscow last summer.
The £18million Russia international is Chelsea's biggest signing since the £30m deal for Andrey Shevchenko four years ago but he has started only three Premier League games.
A troublesome knee injury was believed to be the main reason for Zhirkov's problems at the start of the season but he has revealed he has also found life hard off the pitch.
The 26-year-old said: "Though many people say I'd adapt easily to England and its football, I cannot admit the adaptation is full. The problem rests on my poor knowledge of the language.
"Language in a foreign country is by no means essential but I understand that football depends on having an everyday adaptation.
"Besides the language I also lack my friends. I always talk to them in Skype. I think if my friends would have been in London everything would have been perfect.
"I regularly meet with Andrey Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov came to London a couple times. But at home I have many more friends."
However, Zhirkov is determined to make a success of his career at Stamford Bridge despite being linked with a loan move to Dynamo Kiev.
"All the talk about a move is only rumours," he said. "I hope to pursue a career at Chelsea."
Reader views (1)
Sorry to hear this; Yuri's looked a decent player during his brief appearances, but his injury hasn't helped. If we were playing 4-4-2 he'd be brilliant as a left-sided attacking midfielder.
- Blue Baby, London, 09/02/2010 14:47
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