Chelsea's Luiz Felipe Scolari says Didier Drogba is unlikely to feature for his side until the very end of August.
The 30-year-old has spent the summer recuperating from a knee injury which will rule him out of the Blues' opening Barclays Premier League match against Portsmouth, on 17th August, and probably the Wigan Athletic encounter a week later.
Scolari has pencilled in the London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on 31st August for a possible return but admits he will not rush the Ivory Coast star back into action.
every day
"Didier will not play in our first game against Portsmouth and will probably miss the second against Wigan. If there are no more problems he should be ready for the game after that," said Scolari.
"But when you have a knee injury, you just never know.
"I have been getting a progress report from the doctor every day.
"He's getting better and is working with a fitness coach back at the training ground. I hope he will be ready to start training next week. But he will not play until he is in good condition."
