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Terry stands firm behind Torres

John Terry says Fernando Torres is "giving an awful lot to the side" despite the striker's goalscoring drought © Getty Images

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Chelsea captain John Terry has reiterated his team's confidence in striker Fernando Torres soon hitting the scoring trail, as the Spanish striker's tribulations in front of goal continue.

Much has been made of Torres' goalscoring record since his £50 million move from Liverpool on transfer deadline day in January 2011, with the once prolific striker having found the back of the net just five times in his 41 appearances for the Blues to date.

Currently on a drought which has now stretched to 14 games across all competitions, Torres was again unlucky during the weekend's 1-0 win over Sunderland, striking the crossbar with a spectacular overhead effort which team-mate Frank Lampard followed up to score the game's only goal.

Terry is adamant Torres will find his form in front of goal once more, and also highlighted the contribution the Spain international makes off the ball as part of his wider game.

"He was really unlucky at the weekend hitting the bar, but thankfully Lampard was there to score. He's been looking really good, he's just missing that goal which everyone is craving for him at the moment," Terry, who believes Didier Drogba's absence due to African Cup of Nations duty could aid Torres. told Sky Sports News.

"I think first and foremost he's giving an awful lot to the side, and with Didier away at the moment hopefully he can get a good run of four or five games in the side, then hopefully the goals will come."

Andre Villas-Boas' team currently sit 11 points off league leaders Manchester City, and Terry remains quietly confident that is not an insurmountable deficit.

"This weekend I feel is a really big weekend for us," he added. "As long as we can win our game away against Norwich which will be a really tough one (on Saturday), we can slowly be creeping up, of that I'm quite confident."

Terry's comments followed a busy day of transfer dealings at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, as midfielder Josh McEachran and defender Patrick van Aanholt completed loan moves for the remainder of the season to Swansea City and Vitesse Arnhem respectively.

In the Chelsea Academy the club also secured the acquisition of a trio of young brothers from Luton Town, with 12-year-old twins Rio and Cole Dasilva and their 13-year-old sibling Jay joining the Premier League club after five years in the Hatters' youth system.

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