LONDON - Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has played down speculation about Didier Drogba's future at the club.

LONDON - Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has played down speculation about Didier Drogba's future at the club.

Scolari hinted the 30-year-old striker could return for Chelsea's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Ipswich on Saturday, following a two-game absence.

"Didier may be with the squad against Ipswich, he does not have a problem with me or the club," Scolari said this week.

"He is training very well and starting to build his condition again, not only his fitness but his technique too."

Scholari left Drogba out of the squad in Chelsea's 4-1 win in the FA Cup third-round replay against Southend and in Saturday's comeback victory against Stoke in the Premier League.

"It's a normal situation, for these games I chose other players," said Scolari, who opted for youngsters Miroslav Stoch and Franco Di Santo in the two games that Drogba missed. - BBC