Blues face striker crisis

Chelsea face a potentially difficult Festive Season programme after losing all of their regular strikers to injury and the African Cup of Nations. Manager Carlo Ancelotti must say goodbye to Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou as they are off the represent Cote d’Ivoire in the Afcon while Nicolas Anelka tore a hamstring in training last week. Daniel Sturridge and 18-year-old Fabio Borini are the only recognised strikers left for Ancelotti to pick, but neither has ever scored a goal for Chelsea or started an EPL game for the club. Drogba's 18 goals have fired Chelsea four points clear at the top of the league. Anelka has scored eight goals. The Blues play Birmingham on Boxing Day and Fulham on Monday.