Didier Drogba: China's vanity project?

Chelsea's Didier Drogba and Manchester United hero Wayne Rooney were among three forwards included in four nominations for England's Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) player of the year award on Thursday.Manchester City's Carlos Tevez is the third striker in a list that also includes Arsenal midfelder Cesc Fabregas.Ivory Coast international Drogba has scored 32 goals in all competitions this season, playing a key role in putting Premier League leaders and FA Cup finalists Chelsea in sight of a domestic double.

Didier Drogba announced his return to European football with a brace as Chelsea qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League with a 2-2 Group D draw at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.Drogba, back after a three-match suspension, scored twice in the final ten minutes to put Chelsea in front only for second half substitute Sergio "Kun" Aguero to score his second with a 90th minute equaliser.Chelsea knew a win would see them through to the next phase but in the end a draw was enough due to FC Porto's 1-0 win at APOEL in Tuesday's other group match.

Chelsea will be without star striker Didier Drogba and key midfielder Frank Lampard when the Premier League champions face Aston Villa on Saturday.Ivory Coast international Drogba is out with a fever, while England star Lampard has not recovered from a groin strain in time for the clash at Villa Park.Drogba has been taking antibiotics to cure his illness but is not certain to recover in time for Tuesday's Champions League fixture against Spartak Moscow, which Lampard is certain to miss.

Didier Drogba has warned Chelsea's title rivals that he is determined to satisfy his voracious appetite for success by firing the Blues back to Premier League glory.Drogba has won two league titles, two FA Cups and two League Cups since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2004, but the Ivory Coast striker is still as hungry to lift silverware as ever.

Chelsea missed the chance to go top in the English Premier League after Didier Drogba saw a late penalty saved in a 1-1 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday.Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, who'd let substitute Drogba's shot go through his hands for Chelsea's 70th minute equaliser, brought down Ramires in stoppage time.But the Brazilian then produced a fine save to deny Drogba, who took the spot-kick even though fellow substitute and regular penalty-taker Frank Lampard was on the field.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was on Thursday named African Footballer of the Year for 2009, the second time the Ivory Coast international has won the award.Drogba pushed Inter Milan and Cameroon skipper Samuel Eto'o into second place in the vote amongst national team coaches from Confederation of African Football (CAF) member-nations.Drogba also won in 2006, again ahead of Eto'o, but was denied the continent's top individual prize in 2007 when he failed to attend the awards ceremony in Togo.Ghana and Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien was third.

The African Nations Cup is due to have a major impact upon events at both ends of the English Premier League table.Leaders Chelsea have seen Ivory Coast forwards Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou as well as Ghana midfielder Michael Essien and Nigeria's John Obi-Mikel, all depart for Angola where the 2010 competition starts on Sunday.

Didier Drogba reckons his diving antics are all part of the entertainment, says Stoke City's Salif Diao, who will be keeping a close eye on the Chelsea striker in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final.Drogba will be looking to fire English Premier League title-chasers Chelsea into a Wembley semi-final when they take on mid-table visitors Stoke at Stamford Bridge.Diao, who stands in the Ivory Coast hitman's way, said he was well aware of Drogba's reputation - having been a close friend for a decade since their days playing in France.