CL Draw Countdown

[Reece]

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka faces a three-week spell on the sidelines because of a toe injury, according to the French Football Federation.

Anelka, 30, played the full 90 minutes of Chelsea's 1-0 Premier League defeat at Tottenham on Saturday.

He was assessed by the France squad's medics before being replaced for the World Cup qualifiers with Lithuania.

Chelsea have yet to comment but Anelka may miss the games against Newcastle on 4 April and Liverpool on 8 April.


606: DEBATE
How big a blow is Anelka's injury to Chelsea?
Anelka is currently the top scorer in the Premier League this season with 15 goals but his last strike came against Aston Villa on 21 February in Guus Hiddink's first match in charge of the Blues.

However, if he is sidelined for his club, the forward's loss should be tempered by the recent return to fitness and form of Didier Drogba.

[Craig_H]

This is pleasing but if he'd been fit, there might've been the chance that Hiddink would've done the one thing that's ruined them this season - tried playing them as a pair.

[yukpo]

chelsea aren't really as good as some are making out, im not gonna shout out that liverpool are world beaters after 3 games as im sure we all remember that 2-0 loss at boro, momentum can switch in an instant in this game

and i do think chelsea are a decent side who still arent completely out of the title race themselves but they are more than beatable