With Didier Drogba back in the squad for tonight's visit of Burnley, there is set to be keen competition for the main striker role for the rest of the season.

That is the belief of assistant first team coach Ray Wilkins. He anticipates the Ivorian will react in a positive way to the challenge of winning a starting place in light of Nicolas Anelka's scoring form.

'It is what being at a big club is all about,' Wilkins points out.

'We do have the luxury of Nicolas being able to play wide and through the middle as well - and we can change to 4-4-2 with the two guys up front too. I wouldn't fancy playing against them both!

'They haven't started too much together - and I think the system we play [with one central striker] suits them both down to the ground. Using 4-4-2 would come in to play if we are losing, if we need to get the ball wide and then into the box with two big guys going on to those balls.

'It is up to whoever has the shirt to make sure they stay in there. I am sure there is a healthy rivalry over getting in the side, performing and who will score the most goals because that is what they are all about.'

With Drogba on the way back from a series of injuries and Anelka with 11 goals to his name this season, it can be argued that the place in the side is the Frenchman's to lose - and Wilkins can see reasons behind the step up in his form this season.

'Nicolas has always had immense quality and at the moment Felipe [Scolari] is managing to get the best of that quality out of him, plus the player has worked extremely hard to get himself into this situation.

'He has been asked to play on his own up front and he can get hold of the ball much better now. He has been working hard to get the ball into himself so we can play around the opponents' penalty box.

'That is what Didier is exceptional at. Nicolas has different attributes in that his pace will take him beyond defenders in a flash. If you could blend the two of them together, you'd have the best striker in world football. But Nic has been working very hard at the aspects of his game that weren't quite there.

'I have only known Didier for about six weeks but I can see he has an in-built determination to succeed and I don't think he is going to lie down lightly.

'He will come back with all guns blazing, and he has looked very sharp over the last couple of days. So he probably feels he is about ready to take part in a full 90 minutes, and hopefully we can get that under his belt at some stage.

'There is competition in other areas of the team as well and it is a pleasure to be able to pick from such a selection. The lads know the score. Felipe can only select 11.'

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