Gary Cahill: 'Diego Costa as loved as Didier Drogba at Chelsea'

Gary Cahill has claimed that teammate Diego Costa is now just as important to Chelsea's title hopes as Didier Drogba used to be.

The Spain international took his tally for the season to 12 goals in 15 Premier League appearances at the weekend by scoring the crucial breakthrough strike at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Costa, criticised by many fans following Jose Mourinho's sacking 12 months ago, has now well and truly won back the support of those around Stamford Bridge thanks to his impressive form in front of goal under Antonio Conte, so much so that Cahill believes that the striker is now at a similar level to club legend Drogba in the popularity stakes.

"Didier was a huge figure goalscoring wise and also with his personality on and off the pitch," he told the London Evening Standard. "You need strikers like that and Diego has fitted in nicely.

"Since he's been at the club he's scored goals but this season he's on fire. Are the fans starting to love him like they loved Didier? Yes, of course, because he is banging goals in every week. He is winning us matches. At this moment he is right up there among the best in the world. The statistics don't lie."

Drogba found the net 164 times in 381 appearances for Chelsea across two separate spells and was crowned the Blues' greatest-ever player in 2012 after helping his side to the Champions League crown.