Crespo not getting the Blues on the bench

HERNAN CRESPO has pledged to be patient as he tries to wrestle the striking role from Didier Drogba at Chelsea.

The Argentinian, who has denied any bad feeling between himself and Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, is confident his time will come.

The 30-year-old has started just five Premiership matches and played 59 minutes in the Champions League for the Blues - but he will be involved in Argentina’s friendly clash with England in Geneva tomorrow.

Crespo will be up against team-mates Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry.

While Crespo is disappointed with the amount of games he has started this season, he insists he will get his chance.

Mourinho has opted for Drogba in attack - even though Crespo struck the last-minute winner against Wigan in the opening game of the season.

Crespo, who spent last season on loan with AC Milan, is prepared to wait for a change in fortune instead of rocking the boat and asking to leave.

“My condition is good and I feel much better,” Crespo said.

“Mourinho is a good person and I am very happy to be with him. I want to play more but I need to have patience and my time will arrive.

“When you play in a great team, you need to deserve to play 90 minutes. The season is beginning. I need to wait and work and my time will arrive.”

Earlier Crespo had acted swiftly to quash suggestions he had fallen out with Mourinho prior to the trip to Seville for the Champions League clash with Real Betis.

Crespo was left at home because of a calf strain and he made it clear the injury was the only problem.

“There is no way we have fallen out,” insisted Crespo.

“No way. We didn’t have an argument, definitely not. That did not happen. I want to stay at Chelsea. You must not believe I will leave in January. Mourinho is one of the great managers in the world. He is a good person and I am very happy to work with him and our relationship is good.

“I do have patience. If I have five, 10 or 90 minutes, I will always do my best.

“There is no problem with that. Am I frustrated? No. I know I am at Chelsea.”

Crespo is relishing the prospect of taking on at least three of his team-mates in tomorrow’s friendly.

That tally could rise to five if Shaun Wright-Phillips and fit again Wayne Bridge get in on the action in Geneva.

Crespo will be gunning for revenge after the last game between them in the 2002 World Cup ended in a 1-0 win for England.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have named two-time winner Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon and Drogba among five nominees for this year’s African Footballer of the Year.

Chelsea’s Ghanaian international Michael Essien also features in the shortlist, which will be cut to three players on November 19. The annual awards will for the first time take place in the Nigerian capital Abuja on January 9.