Twelve months ago, Felipe Scolari would have just waved goodbye to his international players and be preparing for the role of interested spectator in the weekend's domestic fixtures.

Now on the other side of the managerial fence, the Chelsea manager has been discussing the effect of the midweek international fixtures on his squad, as well as issuing a fitness update ahead of his first Barclays Premier League away game.

Michael Ballack failed to finish last weekend's opener due to a foot injury and Michael Essien was unavailable for that game. José Bosingwa was added to the list of doubts for Sunday's visit to Wigan following his withdrawal during Portugal's match. However Scolari has promising news on all three.

'I have little problems with Ballack, Bosingwa and with Essien,' he confirmed after Friday's training session.

'Now we have started with Essien training more regularly. Bosingwa and Ballack are in good condition for Sunday and Essien maybe can play for 45 minutes, maybe no.

'The [international players] arrived back a little tired but it is normal for this game. Some players played 45 minutes, some 70 minutes, and we have made training different these last two days.

'It has been more tactical and more about set-pieces, because we trained before the players went to the national team and they are in good condition for Sunday.'

Five Chelsea players were at Wembley on Wednesday but Scolari is only prepared to give a limited assessment of the England v Czech Republic result.

'Playing against the Czech Republic is difficult, I know, and for me 2-2 is a normal result when you play strong national teams.

'But don't ask me about the national team in England because it is a job for Capello. I don't want that job, I want my job with Chelsea.

'The players don't say anything about their international games and I don't ask about the performance because it is not my job, my job is the performance in Chelsea. I said one day in Portugal, I don't want the club managers to say about my team, so I don't say anything about the national teams.'

What Scolari is prepared to discuss is his pool of strikers. Salomon Kalou has returned from the Olympics having missed the opening weekend goal feast when Nicolas Anelka was the one senior striker available.

Scolari spoke about his work with Anelka prior to beating Portsmouth and he similarly addresses the needs of Andriy Shevchenko.

'He is part of my plans but you have to understand that when he played at Milan, he was with players with different characteristics. Champions there are different than in England. We need to think about this balance.

'Maybe he needs more confidence, maybe more confidence with me. Maybe he needs more of the normal training he is having now. Maybe he needs more time.

'Now I have Anelka in a good situation. Sheva needs time and I need time.'

From only one available senior striker, Scolari may soon have four following promising news on Didier Drogba, currently working his way back from the knee problem that has kept him out of action since the Champions League Final.

'Drogba is better than before,' the manager reports.

'His knee is very well and he has been training every day in the morning and afternoon.

'Maybe against Tottenham, it is possible [for him] to play 30-45 minutes but if not Tottenham, complete recuperation for the next game after the next national team games.'