Drogba returns in Torres´ absence

Striker Didier Drogba will start against Everton in the FA Cup fourth round replay on Saturday.

Drogba was dropped in favour of new signing Fernando Torres for Chelsea’s most recent match at Fulham but Torres is cup-tied tomorrow and so the Ivorian has been named.

“Drogba will start this game,” said manager Carlo Ancelotti, who insisted his top scorer has not been sulking.

“I saw the same Didier this week, in focus on the training, working hard with a good motivation. I think he will play a fantastic game.”

Drogba looked a forlorn figure on the bench at Craven Cottage and Ancelotti admits it was a tough decision to leave him out.

“Every decision to leave out a player is not easy to take. Not just for Drogba,” Ancelotti said.

“Every player wants to play and give his support for the team. It’s normal they are not happy.”

“But Didier had a very good reaction during the week, he trained well without problem. He wants to pay a good game tomorrow.”

Chelsea, the FA Cup holders, want to become the first club since Blackburn in the 1880s to win the trophy three years in a row.

“I know this and I hope we can do it,” said Ancelotti.

“It’s another extra motivation. We want to do our best. If are able to move on against Everton we can have a possibility to play a semi-final at Wembley at least.”

Chelsea go into the game with left-sided midfielder Yuri Zhirkov available after recovering from a calf injury he sustained on international duty with Russia in November.

But both Torres and David Luiz are ineligible.

Ancelotti added: “It’s good news that Zhirkov is available. He is in the squad. He will not start but he hopefully he has an opportunity to play.”