After missing out on the signing of Robinho from Real Madrid, there is bound to be some slight concerns in the Chelsea camp. However, the news that Didier Drogba came through 60 minutes of a reserve game unscathed should outweigh the Robinho news. Drogba is still the main man at Stamford Bridge and it cannot be underestimated how vital he is to the team’s success.

On his day, he can be one of the most influential strikers in world football and in my opinion his potential return from injury is far more valuable to Chelsea than a Brazilian youngster who is unproven in the Premier League. This may sound like sour grapes, I’m aware of that. However, I’m not hiding the fact that I would like to have seen Robinho in a Chelsea shirt – but that’s gone now. What I want to put across is the fact that Robinho would have done extremely well to have half the influence and impact on Chelsea’s fortunes that Drogba has had over the years.

So, the good news is that Drogba – who has not played since the Champions League final defeat – is on the road to recovery. He has been suffering with a knee injury all summer at a time when he has constantly been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge. That’s why it is all the more encouraging that not only is he still a Chelsea player, he is close to being back fit and raring to go. There have been questions over his commitment in the past, but I’ve never brought into those. In my opinion, his ego is too big to do anything other than give his all and as a result highlight why he is one of the best strikers in the world.

Take a look at the end of last season for example. I think it was clear to everyone that he wasn’t Avram Grant’s biggest fan, but he still turned it on in the wins against Arsenal and Liverpool – he scored two goals in each of these games. The Arsenal game in particular, he turned on its head. Arsenal led on the hour mark before two late Drogba strikes claimed the points for Chelsea.

Under Luiz Felipe Scolari I think these sort of performances will be an even more regular occurrence. Drogba will have the utmost respect for his new boss, something you couldn’t say he had for Mr Grant. He will also know that Scolari won’t allow him to coast through games, so in order to play every week; he will have to play each game like it is the most important one of his life – which can only be good for Chelsea. In fact, if I was to bet on the Premier League’s leading goal scorer come next May, an in form Didier Drogba won’t be far off the mark. If he is fit and if he is committed he is one of the most feared strikers around – everyone knows that.

There is also no doubt that the team genuinely misses his presence when he is not there. In the game against Tottenham, the absence of Drogba and his equally influential team mate Michael Ballack was painfully obvious. Nicolas Anelka is a talented player and I am still confident he can have a very productive season this year, but he simply can’t play up front on his own. The Chelsea team never looks the same without Drogba leading the line and I can’t wait before he is in the starting eleven again. The likes of Deco, Michael Essien and Ballack will be much more influential when they have Mr Drogba in front of them to supply killer balls to.

Finally for today, let me ask you this – who would you rather have, Didier Drogba, Robinho or Dimitar Berbatov? I’d personally take Drogba any day. Berbatov certainly isn’t worth £8m more than him. As for Robinho, well no-one knows what to expect from him. As for Drogba, everyone knows that he will score goals and he will be involved in everything Chelsea do well. I’d even like to see the football odds on Drogba scoring more than Berbatov and Robinho put together this season. That’s how much I value him.

The international break presents Drogba with a chance to play in Chelsea’s next Premier League game. Who is that against? Robinho’s Manchester City of course. Perhaps then we will see what Chelsea ‘missed out’ on. Or perhaps we will simply observe why Drogba shouldn’t be swapped for any player in football.

Thomas Rooney – Freelance Sports Journalist

Filed under: Current Players, Rants