Fri Aug 29 14:19:35 2008

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Chelsea expects Drogba back by mid-September

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London, England (Sports Network) - Chelsea revealed Friday it expects striker Didier Drogba to be back in action immediately after the upcoming international break the first weekend of September.

The Ivory Coast international has not made an appearance for Chelsea since last season's Champions League Final following offseason knee surgery.

Drogba's international coach recently suggested the 30-year-old striker could be absent until late October, but Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari believes he will be available for the Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sept. 13.

"I expect Drogba to be ready for the game against Manchester City because now we have 14 days for training," he told the club's official website. "He isn't ready for the national team, so Monday maybe he plays in the reserve team for 45 minutes.

"After this, progress, and maybe Manchester City."

Meanwhile, Scolari has admitted he has a selection dilemma on his hands for Sunday's visit of Spurs as midfield duo Michael Essien and Michael Ballack are struggling with injuries.

"I need to play players out of position, to rearrange players, because two or three midfielders have injuries," he conceded. "My problems are Ballack and Essien."

(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)