Drogba in line for shock return

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is poised to make a surprise return from injury against Fulham at Stamford Bridge.

Drogba, top scorer in the Premier League last season, was not expected to be ready for several weeks.

But he has boosted new Chelsea boss Avram Grant by being declared fit after recovering from a knee injury.

Grant said: "Didier will be back. You want all the players to be available but I am very happy he is the first to return out of our injured players."

Drogba is likely to partner Andriy Shevchenko in attack as Chelsea attempt to secure their first league win since the shock departure of Jose Mourinho.

Shevchenko, meanwhile, has urged his team-mates to show some unity following the appointment of new manager Grant.

The Ukrainian's uneasy relationship with Mourinho was said to be a factor in the coach being replaced by Grant.

But the Ukraine striker, 30, said: "It's a difficult moment for the club, the players, the team, because of big changes in the house.

"It's a moment for the players to stick together and do our best for the club."

Shevchenko has struggled for form since joining the club from AC Milan for £31m and was often overlooked by Mourinho.

That is said to have been partly behind the breakdown in the relationship between Mourinho and the Blues' billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who is a close friend of Shevchenko.

Grant was initially brought in as director of football with a special role to work with the misfiring Shevchenko.

But Shevchenko, who will be looking to celebrate his 31st birthday with a win over Fulham on Saturday, insists he is not expecting any special treatment from the new man in charge.

He added: "I know him as director of football with the team, like every player. He tries now as a manager and every player has the same relationship."

Shevchenko was part of the Chelsea side that lost 2-0 at Manchester United in Grant's first game at the helm, before being rested agianst Hull in midweek.