• Premier League

Drogba: Costa striker Chelsea needed

Diego Costa is the striker that Chelsea needed to make themselves serious title contenders, Didier Drogba has admitted.

Drogba made his first start of the season in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Schalke in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge, but he is likely to be back on the sidelines as Costa is expected to return for Chelsea's vital Premier League trip to Manchester City on Sunday.

Kompany key to keeping Costa out

Diego Costa has seven goals in four games © Getty Images

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Costa has already scored seven goals in his first four Premier League outings and Drogba has backed him to fill the lead striker role he enjoyed during his first spell at Chelsea, when he played a key role in the club winning 10 major trophies.

"He is the striker we needed this season," said Drogba. "When I look at him I can see the desire to win every challenge, and to score goals.

"He is hungry for goals and that's the best thing for a team like us. For him to start this season in England, coming from Spain which is a different league and to recreate the same thing he was doing in Spain is fantastic."

Drogba went on to suggest he had a role to play as both a striker and a mentor in the Chelsea dressing room this season.

The 36-year-old, who scored the winning penalty in the 2012 Champions League final, hopes his status as a Stamford Bridge legend acts as an inspiration to the younger players in Jose Mourinho's squad.

"I'm here to help but I'm also here to show, if I can say that, to show them the spirit," Drogba said.

"Even if I don't have any doubt about their desire to win, I'm here to help and I will give what I can. I'm preparing myself to give something extra to the team and achieve what we want to achieve."

Didier Drogba says Diego Costa is "hungry" for goals © Getty Images

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