John Mikel Obi, the youngest first team regular is learning from his fifth Chelsea coach. He has been discussing the process and his chances of playing in Africa's first World Cup.

'With regards to playing characteristics there is Mikel, he seems really like me.'

That was an answer from Carlo Ancelotti in a recent interview when asked from all the midfielders in Europe, which is the most like he was as a player.

It was, so it turns out, the public airing of a thought the Chelsea manager had already shared with John Mikel Obi. It naturally leads on to the question of whether Ancelotti will attempt to mould the Nigerian in his own image.

In terms of achievement on the field of play there are certainly worse careers to emulate, the Italian having won the European Cup twice with Milan's legendary side - Ruud Gullit et al - and represented his famous football nation at the World Cup.

'He knows the role very, very well and sometimes he speaks with me about it,' Mikel confirms, sitting on a wall near the training pitch after another session with his new coach. The 22-year-old who already has 135 Chelsea appearances to his name is ready to discuss the next stage of his evolution.

'He told me he was like me but we will see how it goes. Every time a new manager comes in it is difficult. I try to get used to the old manager and he goes and another one comes in and wants you to play a different way, and then another one comes and sometimes it is a bit confusing.

'But with the current manager, he has asked me to play differently in a different system and that is difficult at first - but I will only do my best.'

It was made clear by the club this summer that stability in the manager's job is a major aspiration with Ancelotti's appointment intended to provide it. That can only benefit Mikel who has worked under five coaches in his four seasons.

It was the first of those, Jose Mourinho, who decided a teenage player who had previously been groomed as a more attacking force, was likely to best fulfill his potential as a deeper-lying midfielder.

Ancelotti sees the same attributes and during the summer US tour he discussed the player.

'Mikel has very good quality to play in front of the defence,' the coach said. 'He has good defensive play but has to improve when we have the ball. He has the possibility because he is young and intelligent, and he is motivated to do better.

'It is important for him to play well for the team because from this position passes a lot of play for the team. It is not so easy and not so important for him to score.'

A good job too you could say as Mikel has found the net just twice so far, most recently in January 2007.

He has been striking the odd shot well this season and was just inches away with a 25-yarder at Fulham. He admits to working on that area of his game but confirms there are greater priorities.

'The manager wants me to pass the ball a bit quicker so yes, we will see how that goes, but it also depends on the options you have as well. You cannot pass the ball quicker when you don't have options so it is not just about me.'

It's a valid point that fits with Ancelotti's view that time, the length of which can't be specified, is needed for the team as a whole to get to grips with his system.

In many ways the season so far is the one imagined last year for Mikel and Michael Essien before the Ghanaian's injury - a sharing of the responsibility for dropping anchor in midfield.

It could be interpreted as a horses-for-courses policy, although Mikel speaks of straightforward rotation in this early stage of the season.

He finished the last campaign strongly with an excellent FA Cup Final but was then taken off at half time in the opening game at home to Hull when Essien also started. Since then it was Essien at Sunderland, Mikel away to Fulham, Essien for the home win over Burnley and then Mikel back in at Stoke.

On Tuesday night against Porto, a minor muscle strain for Mikel made the choice simple.

He anticipates a more steady selection will emerge as the months draw on although in his position, any choice is likely to be disturbed when the African Cup of Nations comes calling between 10th and 31st January. It's a period that affects knockout cup rounds and league fixtures at home to Sunderland and Birmingham and away to Hull and Burnley.

Essien plus Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba are definitely Angola-bound but there is still a little work to do for Mikel's Nigeria who must finish in the top three of their World Cup qualification group to make the African Cup of Nations (the groups have a dual qualification purpose).

Nigeria are currently in second place, three points clear of fourth place with two matches to play.

They have a far more demanding task to make next summer's World Cup. Only the top side goes through and Tunisia have a two-point lead having equalised in the dying moments of this month's meeting between the two nations.

With Ghana qualified for the World Cup and Ivory Coast just a point away, it would surely be tough to be Chelsea's one African on holiday come June.

'No, no, we won't be left behind!' declares Mikel before acknowledging: 'We have two more games, at home to Mozambique and away to Kenya and we have a slim chance of qualifying. We will see how it goes. Hopefully we will win the rest of our games.

'The fact the World Cup is in Africa is a reason why I really want to be there but the quality of the Nigeria team is maybe not as good as the Ivory Coast and the Ghanaian team. Many of the players are not playing in the Premier League or other major clubs.'

With just the odd exception though they are playing in Europe and the experience of African players playing in the most competitive leagues has led to a steady improvement in performances at World Cups.

Fabio Capello no less has identified Ivory Coast as potential challengers in South Africa and it is worth bearing in mind that traditionally European nations do not triumph at World Cups outside Europe.

Mikel however remains cautious about his continent's chances.

'I would like one my African brothers or an African country to win it but the way football in Europe is going - the quality of the game they are playing which is getting faster and better every day - I support the African teams but I can see one of the European countries winning it.'