Drogba called up for African Nation's Cup

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has been selected in the Ivory Coast’s preliminary squad for next month’s African Nations Cup.

The 29-year-old is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on a knee injury on Saturday, and Blues manager Avram Grant this week claimed he would be out of action for around three weeks.

Drogba’s injury problems have not, however, stopped him from being included in Uli Stielike’s 26-man squad, along with team-mate Salomon Kalou.

Arsenal defenders Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, Bolton’s Abdoulaye Meite, Emerse Fae of Reading and Tottenham midfielder Didier Zokora are the other Premier League players who have been picked.

The event in Ghana begins on January 20 and runs until February 10.