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With Rafa Benitez in charge at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea fans will be hoping to see the best of the Spain striker and Willie Duncan is backing him to score against Martin Jol's men

Whilst Chelsea fans seem largely unimpressed by the appointment of Rafa Benitez as the club’s interim manager, Blues fans will be hoping that Benitez’s arrival can spark an upturn in fortunes for striker Fernando Torres.

It was of course Benitez, then Liverpool manager, who brought El Nino to the English Premier League and it proved to be a huge success as Torres bagged an impressive 65 goals in just 102 appearances for the Reds.

However, since completing a £50 million move from Anfield to Stamford Bridge in January 2011, it is fair to say that Torres has failed to hit the heights that he achieved during his spell with Liverpool.

Indeed, Torres has managed just 11 goals in 59 appearances since joining the Blues and he will be hoping that being reunited with Benitez may prove to be the catalyst that he requires.

The Spain international, who scored in his country’s 4-0 victory over Italy in the Euro 2012 final, began the season on a positive note with six goals in 12 appearances for the Blues.

However, it proved to be a false dawn and since his goal in his side's 4-1 win over Norwich City in October, Torres has managed just one goal in nine appearances for Chelsea.

The former Liverpool forward was left frustrated by his performance in Benitez’s first match in charge of the Blues when he failed to register a single shot on target against Manchester City on Sunday, but Torres will have an opportunity to lay down a marker when Chelsea’s west London neighbours Fulham visit Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

William Hill have opened a special market on when Torres will score next and offer even money (2.0) that the out-of-sorts striker finds the net against Martin Jol’s men.

Whilst that price may appear skinny at first glance, it is worth noting that Fulham have leaked 15 goals in their last five matches and, with Torres all but guaranteed a starting berth in Benitez’s team selection, the even money (2.0) quote from William Hill looks to represent good value.

Should Torres fail to net in front of his home supporters on Wednesday, William Hill offer 7/2 (4.50) that the Spain striker ends his current barren spell at Upton Park against West Ham United at the weekend, while the same firm go 11/2 (6.50) that Torres must wait until Chelsea face Sunderland on December 8 to next hit the net.

Torres is available at 13/2 (7.50) with William Hill to claim an early Christmas present in the shape of his next goal when Aston Villa visit Stamford Bridge on December 23 while Torres’ doubters will be tempted by William Hill’s 5/2 (3.50) quote that he fails to hit the net in any of the aforementioned matches.

With Benitez back in the dugout, though, and Fulham’s defensive frailties clear for all to see, there is value in backing Torres at even money (2.0) to end his four-game streak without a goal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night.

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Willie Duncan is a freelance sports journalist. Willie, from Edinburgh, has covered Scottish football for over 10 years and he specialises in football betting markets from across Europe. You can also follow Willie on Twitter

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