Big news then. Perhaps. According to a report this morning, Didier Drogba is facing three weeks on the sidelines after X-rays confirmed that he did actually hurt himself in the challenge with United’s Jonny Evan’s last weekend.
The striker pulled out the Ivory Coast’s qualifier with Guinea earlier this week with a chest injury inflicted in the win over United. Although early reports suggested that Drogba could be in line to return for the Ivorian’s fixture with Germany next Wednesday, news today suggests otherwise…
It appears that the Ivory Coast medical staff have carried out X-rays on the injury and that there is indeed a fracture of the ribs. Drogba is apparently due to arrive back at Chelsea on Monday when we can expect more details. Right now, things are very sketchy and this report has surfaced in the Sun newspaper, without any confirmation from the club or similar reports elsewhere. Even so, some Chelsea fansites are taking it as gospel. If this is confirmed, it would be a big blow to Chelsea and major news for us fantasy managers.
Drogba has been outstanding this season and has established himself as an almost essential element of our fantasy squads. If he is ruled out for the next two to three matches, his owners would face a major dilemma, particularly in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) game where his price has risen dramatically from 10.5 to 11.4. Selling now would see many managers facing a significant loss of funds. However, given that Drogba is facing a spell out due to African Cup of Nations in January, it has to be a consideration.
Drogba will likely join up with the Ivory Coast squad for that tournament after the Fulham home fixture in gamweek 20. Between then and now, Chelsea face a mixed bag of fixtures (WLV ars mcy EVE POR whm bir FUL). If he is to sit out for three weeks he would likely miss trips to Arsenal and City, in addition to the potentially profitable home game with Wolves to come this gameweek. This would hopefully see him return for a decent run of fixtures before leaving for international duty in January, although there is no guarantee that Drogba will make a speedy recovery.
Anelka could now pick up considerable interest from fantasy managers with a clear run of starts and extra goalscoring responsibility likely to fall on his shoulders throughout December and certainly in January whilst Drogba is away. Kalou, classified as a midfielder in some fantasy games (a 7.4 midfielder in the FPL), would also attract major interest for the next month if Drogba’s rib injury is confirmed.
One factor we have to consider however is that Chelsea would go into tricky fixtures against Arsenal and City without both Drogba and Lampard. It was confirmed yesterday that Lampard will be sidelined for three weeks with the thigh injury sustained whilst in training with England this week.