Chelsea's Salomon Kalou Talks Up Parternship With Nicolas Anelka

Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou deputised during Didier Drogba's Champions League absence due to suspension, and the diminutive goal-getter proved an admirable stand-in as he forged an impressive partnership with French striker Nicolas Anelka.

Kalou, 24, now hopes that with the fourth round of European action on the horizon, he has done enough to convince manager Carlo Ancelotti that he is worthy of his first team role despite the legibility of Drogba.

Drogba had been banned from Champions League football for three games, a retrospective punishment for his actions during last season's semi-final against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.

"It is good to be back on the pitch and scoring goals," said the former Feyenoord forward to ITV.

"As a striker it gives me a lot of confidence.

"Against [Atletico] Madrid we knew it was important to run behind their defence because they always try to play the offside line and so when Anelka dropped deep, it gave me the time and space to arrive in front of goal every time.

"So it was a good combination between me and Anelka and it paid off because I scored two and I could have scored more, but in the end it is good enough that I put two in the net. At the start of the game I played behind the striker on the line-up but the thing is Anelka and I can always switch positions.

"It doesn't matter who is in front or who drops back, there is always a good combination. I suppose it happens because he is the kind of player who likes to go to the ball and I like to run beyond the defence sometimes so it gives us a choice of who plays behind."

"I was playing in the middle for a while at Feyenoord but when I came to Chelsea we had the set-up with the wingers.

"I can play on the wing but now I am happy to be back in my favourite position because I can show the best of my game."

Alan Dawson, Goal.com UK