The most recent goal Michael Ballack scored at Stamford Bridge was against Sunday's visitors.

In fact he found the net twice back in April for a 2-1 win to keep his side's title hopealive until the final day of the Barclays Premier League season.

A header just before half-time and then a penalty in the final five minutes (pictured) won the day and continued what had been a good second-half to a season for Ballack; a season that had lost its first-half due to an ankle operation.

When he was hurt in the very first tackle of the very first game this campaign, he admits for a brief moment he feared another much-shortened campaign but following a second-half sub appearance against Bordeaux ths week, he is fighting fit and ready to threaten Edwin van der Sar's goal once again.

'You can't compare the two injuries,' he told Chelsea TV as he previewed tomorrow's game.

'It was a big injury last year but this year I was a little bit unlucky in the first game when in the first 15 seconds I got a kick. I thought - oh mamma mia - but it was just two or three weeks and now I am over the pain.'

Ballack had been able to play in the second match at Wigan but the bruised foot was still a problem and he missed the next two games plus action for Germany.

'I have had a good last 30 minutes of the game on Tuesday and good training since so everything is fine,' he reports.

'Now this is a big game early in the season but we are in good condition, we are playing well and we have started well in the season. Now we have a big home game.'

Ballack has thoughts on Man United's indifferent start that has seen them win one out of six in all competitions, that an away victory at Portsmouth.

'They are a big, experienced team. They won two titles last year and it is always difficult if you've won something, you start the next season and the motivation and concentration maybe has lost a few per cent.

'You saw in their first game a draw and that's two points lost, the league is strong, but they have a big squad and a good team. They will be back soon.

'We have to focus on ourselves,' he maintains. 'We have a strong team and the target is to win the league this year and when we are concentrated on ourselves and win our games, no-one can beat us.

'We don't want to lose easy points at home and if we can win the big games as well, we can make a bit of a gap [at the top].

Bookmakers Paddy Power make Michael Ballack 13/2 to score in 90 minutes and Chelsea to win the match on Sunday.