Didier Drogba Injury: Romelu Lukaku and Five Others Who Need to Step Up

Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Norwich this afternoon was one of a bittersweet nature after veteran striker Didier Drogba was stretchered off and taken to hospital follow a collision with Canaries keeper John Ruddy.

Drogba was knocked unconscious in a mid-air collision but more worryingly, came down hard on the side of his head and was unable to break his own fall due to his unconscious state. Drogba was unresponsive for several minutes after the incident but was given the all clear in terms of major or long term damage after examinations and scans were done at a local hospital. He has been kept overnight for observation.

It is not known how long Drogba will be out, but I can't imagine it will be a quick return for the Ivory Coast striker; serious concussions can lead to extended absences.

Dorgba is an inspirational figure at Chelsea, and while he is out, someone will need to step up and fill his shoes. With that in mind, I've put together this short slideshow of five possibilities to do just that.

1. Romelu Lukaku

Well, he's already been called the new Drogba, hasn't he?

Lukaku is a fantastically talented young striker whom Chelsea paid a substantial amount of money for this summer when they beat off many other top teams to sign him from Anderlecht. Given his young age, 18, and lack of experience in English football, I imagine that Lukaku has been bought with the long term in mind, rather than with expectations of making a major impact this season.

Lukaku was probably expected to play only a small role at Chelsea this season, as before Drogba's injury, he would appear to have been vying with Daniel Sturridge for the fourth spot in the Chelsea depth chart behind Fernando Torres, Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

Torres and Drogba would be expected to play most weeks either as a starter or off the bench, and Anelka would surely be seen as first choice replacement in the event that one of them should one of them go down with an injury such as is the case now.

With Anelka taking Drogba's role, the position of first choice replacement becomes available, and Lukaku may be ushered into it. If that is case, then the Chelsea faithful may see a lot more of him than was expected in his first season.

If Lukaku is to play a lot for Chelsea, he will have to build understandings with Torres, Juan Mata and Frank Lampard. Those are the three players I believe will be key to Chelsea's attack and the ones he would play would most often should he find himself on the field on a regular basis.

He should also spend time familiarizing himself with the way Josh McEachran plays because he and McEachran are likely to play together for a long time.

2. Nicolas Anelka

Anelka will almost certainly be the one to replace Drogba as Torres' partner when Andre Villas-Boas decides to play two upfront, or as the first option off the bench when Torres is played as a lone striker.

Anelka has a wealth of experience and is a proven goalscorer at the highest level. A different type of player to Drogba, he is capable of being just as effective in his own way. Anelka's form dropped last season and that is something he will have to rectify because Chelsea are going to need him at his best if he is going to fill the gap left by Drogba's injury.

3. Juan Mata

Judging by his cameo appearance Sunday, any doubts about Juan Mata's ability to adjust to Premier League football can now be put to rest. Mata was outstanding for Chelsea on his debut, and his introduction was arguably the reason for their victory. 

His vision, awareness, quick passing and intelligence added a new dimension to Chelsea and gives them the type of playmaker they haven't had in many many years. Mata is a near carbon copy of Manchester City's David Silva, and if he can have the type of impact on Chelsea that Silva has had on City, then he will represent a fantastic signing.

As a Liverpool fan, I was very unhappy that we didn't sign him when we had the chance earlier this summer. Our loss has most definitely been Chelsea's gain. But Chelsea will need him to continue to play at the high level he displayed today if they are going to stay in contention.

Whilst he is not a striker and thus not a direct replacement for Drogba, he is a game changer, and that's a role Drogba has played for Chelsea for many years. Mata can become the creative spark for Chelsea that has long been missing. He could be the hub of their attacking play for many years to come.

If Fernando Torres is going to start to repay the £50 million Chelsea spent on him in January, then Mata is going to be key to that. You could already see glimpses of an understanding between the two in the short time they were on the field together, and that is something Chelsea fans should be excited about.

With a great defence (once David Luiz and Petr Cech return) and a solid, efficient midfield behind them, Mata and Torres could be just the ticket to fire Chelsea to the title.

Frank Lampard

Lampard and Drogba, Drogba and Lampard. These two players have been the catalysts behind Chelsea's attacking play since Jose Mourinho arrived at Stanford Bridge and signed Didier Drogba to lead his attack. If there is one player who has benefited most from Drogba's fantastic frontline player, and in particular his ability to hold the ball up and lay it off to others, it's Frank Lampard. 

Lampard's greatest ability is his awareness of how and when to arrive on the edge of the penalty box. The timing of those runs is a major reason behind his fantastic goal record since the aforementioned arrival of Mourinho and subsequently Drogba in 2004.

Last season was Frank Lampard's worst in many years, but it's a season he should bounce back from. While he undoubtedly suffered from a spell of bad form, his season was plagued by injuries. He was limited to only 24 league games, his joint lowest total since becoming a West Ham regular in the 1997/98 season.

Chelsea will need Lampard at his best this season if they are to contend for the title, but with Drogba out for an unknown length of time, he is going to have to develop new understanding with new teammates, in particular Torres and Mata.

For Chelsea to have success, they need Lampard to score goals on a regular basis. A repeat of his 22 league goals from the 09/10 would be ideal.

5. Fernando Torres

This is definitely a case of saving the most obvious one for last.

Fernando Torres is, without question, one of the world's greatest strikers—a fantastic player with an incredible ability to score goals. There's just one problem: He seems to have forgotten that he's Fernando Torres. He seems to have forgotten how to score goals.

As a Liverpool fan, I would have every reason to be delighted at Torres's current plight: One goal from 16 league games since his £50 million move from my beloved Reds to Stamford Bridge. Performances which were so far removed from those he had turned in through out his career. A world class player, a superstar, looking like an average and, at times, a poor player.

I should be delighted. I want to be delighted. But I can't be delighted. I can't even take a small amount of pleasure for it. Despite all the pain Torres inflicted on Liverpool fans with his departure, he gave us so much joy during his three and a half year spell that I for one find it awful to watch him endure such a torrid time.

He was a hero to me and so many others, and despite the manner in which he left, I think the fact that he missed out on a partnership with Luis Suarez that would have brought the best from him and made him an even better player is punishment enough.

Right now, Torres just needs a goal. I remain convinced of that. It doesn't matter what type of goal. He just needs one solitary goal and then the genius will come flooding back. Goals will flow, plaudits will be showered upon him and champagne football will take hold at the Bridge.

I make that last statement based on what I believe to be the key to Torres' potential rebirth and that is, as I mentioned earlier, the possible link up between Torres and new signing and fellow Spaniard, Juan Mata.

Torres right now is football's version of Pandora's box in my view. Locked inside is something that will spread terror on defences across Europe and vanquish all doubters and nay-sayers. Mata is the key to unlocking that box, and I think it's more a case of "when" than "if" Torres finds his scoring stride.

With Drogba on the sidelines, Torres' safety net isn't there. Last season when he was playing poorly for Chelsea, he had Drogba who could score goals when he was failing to. Now, there is no Drogba, and Chelsea are going to need goals in the coming weeks. Torres is going to have remember that he is in fact Fernando Torres, he is in fact one of the world's great players and is in fact capable of greatness again.

Failing his return to form, please sell him back to Liverpool...

Manager Andre Villas-Boas Will Also Need to Step Up

Andre Villas-Boas and his new team have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season despite not impressing in any of their three league games so far this season.

In truth, they would have expected at least seven points from their three games, but would probably have expected more in the way of performance. Chelsea do have much tougher games to come. 

Villas-Boas is still in the process of making this his own team. While that will probably take most of the season to accomplish to the level at which he is happy, he is going to have make a couple more additions to his squad to give it the strength and depth it was lacking last season when they were required to play a lot of football without key players due to injuries.

With Drogba ruled out, there is not only a big gap in terms of his selection options, but he's also missing one of the strongest and most motivational voices in his dressing room. In my view, Villas-Boas himself must undertake that added motivation work in the dressing room because, without someone doing something of that nature, this Chelsea team has a history of switching off at important moments, as we saw at times last year.

So that's that, my five suggestions of players who need to step up, raise their game and replace Drogba on the pitch and a suggestion that the manager replace him in the dressing as the one who gets the team fired up when confidence starts to drop. 

Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments.

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