Grant pins his hopes on New Year return for Drogba

Avram Grant did not want to sound as if he was counting the days but the Chelsea manager last night said Didier Drogba could be back "in three weeks". If that is the case, the striker could make his comeback from knee surgery in the FA Cup third round home tie with west London neighbours Queen's Park Rangers on 5 January.

Not that the club's top scorer, who had his operation on Saturday, will be around for long, as he will then be off to the African Cup of Nations. If fit he might not even face QPR. The Ivory Coast could, under Fifa rules, force Drogba to join them on 5 January, as that is 15 days before the start of the tournament in Ghana.

Drogba will not be missed tonight, as the Blues host Valencia in what is a dead Champions League game for Grant's men, who have already won their group. The Spanish visitors can still qualify for the Uefa Cup if they get a better result than Schalke achieve against Rosenborg.

That is not Grant's concern and he was not disguising the fact that Chelsea have encountered many bigger European games in their history. "I can't say it's an important game but when you are at home in the Champions League it's always important to try and win," he said. "Sunday v Arsenal is more important."

Being without their top scorer will be crucial against Arsenal, and reflecting on Drogba, Grant said: "I hope he's only out two days. I hope he will be back as soon as possible. He is quality. I want him to feel good in his knee. It looks like he will be out for three weeks."

In the meantime, and in the manner of his predecessor Jose Mourinho, he talked up the prowess of his alternatives, Salomon Kalou, Claudio Pizarro and Andrei Shevchenko.

Chelsea (probable) 4-4-2: Cudicini; Belletti, Alex, Ben Haim, A Cole; Essien, Sidwell, Makelele, Mikel; Kalou, Pizarro.

Valencia (probable) 4-4-2: Canizares; Miguel, Albiol, Helguera, Moretti; Joaquin, Marchena, Albelda, Silva; Arizmendi, Villa. Referee: G Gilewski (Poland).