Drogba boost for Blues

Posted Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by PA

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been given the all-clear to resume training on Thursday after being carried off against Tottenham on Sunday with a calf injury.

The Ivory Coast international is set to figure in the squad for the trip to Wigan on Saturday after a scan revealed there was no serious damage to his calf.

However, he will not be included for the game against QPR in the Carling Cup as boss Carlo Ancelotti looks to blood some fringe and academy players.

"Didier had a scan and there's no problem with his calf," confirmed assistant boss Ray Wilkins. "It was just the most horrendous bout of cramp.

"We thought he couldn't release the muscle and it might be something more nasty but he'll be able to take part on Saturday. It is very good news for us."

Wilkins also confirmed academy players Sam Hutchinson, Fabio Borini and Jeffrey Bruma will be in the squad and Joe Cole and Yuri Zhirkov will be in the startling line-up against Rangers.

"We haven't finalised the side yet but Joe Cole and Zhirkov will both start, which is good news," added Wilkins. "They'll be very important players for us as the season progresses.

"It's nice to see them come back in. When you can't use someone of Joe's ability, any side would miss him. He has that bit of fantasy that can open up defences, so we have missed him.

"But we've coped without him and now we'll have something different now he's come back.

"Zhirkov is a very fluid footballer. He's been out for quite a period but, if he demonstrates half of what he's shown in training, then we've got a very pleasant player on our books.

"The youngsters are all players who have impressed Carlo since he's been here.

"This gives us an opportunity to bring these players in and use them later in the season. If we progress, hopefully we'll be able to use them in the Carling Cup.

"The transfer ban, although we'll appeal it, offers the younger players at the club a great opportunity to impress.

"They'll be in the squad. Whether they'll start is another matter."

Chelsea were sent crashing out of the Carling Cup last season by then Coca-Cola Championship side Burnley and Wilkins does not want to face the same humiliation against their rich west London neighbours.

Wilkins, a former QPR manager, said: "I really enjoyed it there but it's changed now. They have financial backing now but they're still the same club in terms of the football they play.

"The manager always wants them to play football. They had a fantastic result on Saturday (a 2-0 win at Cardiff) and will come here with high spirits.

"I think they'll bring 6,000 and they'll be looking forward to it but it's up to us to make it an unhappy evening for them.

"Carlo has come here to win trophies, whether that be the Carling Cup or the Community Shield. We have a group of winners, the manager included, and we want to win every game we play.

"That's the way we'll be and that's the way we'll finish it as well.

"I think Carlo's enjoying himself. It's a different culture to manage in England but he's enjoying working with the guys. The respect they all have for each other has been there since he walked in the door.

"We have very intelligent footballers at this club and, whichever system they're asked to play, they take it on board quickly. It's worked out through the week and a lot of hard work has gone into producing that.

"We lost against Burnley last season and we don't like losing. We want to go as far as we possibly can in this competition. It's an important competition for us."

QPR will be without Ben Watson but can welcome back Adel Taarabt.

On-loan midfielder Watson is cup-tied having appeared for Wigan in the last round but Taarabt is over the bout of mumps which sidelined him for Saturday's win at Cardiff and could be a direct replacement.

Defender Matt Connolly will miss out again as he has yet to recover from a virus and fellow centre-half Fitz Hall is still out with a groin injury so Damion Stewart and Kaspars Gorkss start at the back.

Tom Heaton got a run-out in goal in the previous round against Accrington but boss Jim Magilton may prefer the experience of Radek Cerny at Stamford Bridge.

Lee Cook (knee), Gareth Ainsworth (hamstring) and Angelo Balanta (groin) are still on the sidelines.M