MX23RW : Friday, December 13 12:21:08| >> :60:3291:3291:

Chelsea legend: 'Branislav Ivanovic can replace Diego Costa'

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin says that defender Branislav Ivanovic could plug gaps up front in the absence of Diego Costa.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho could solve his depleted strikeforce by playing defender Branislav Ivanovic up front, according to former Blues winger Pat Nevin.

With Diego Costa and Loic Remy both injured, 37-year-old Didier Drogba led the line in this afternoon's 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.

Ivanovic, 31, has become known for his goalscoring exploits in recent years and, with 19 Premier League goals, is one away from matching Fernando Torres's record for the Londoners.

"People will think I'm mad but I have no doubt right-back Branislav Ivanovic could replace Diego Costa up front," he told BBC Sport.

"He has a striker's instinct and excellent movement, as he showed brilliantly in the 5-3 win over Everton earlier in the season with his run and finish.

"He not the quickest but he's not slow and he looks to me like a player who has played as a centre-forward before in his career."

The Serbian is also the highest-scoring defender in the Champions League since 2009, with seven goals under his belt.

ID:216784: cacheID:216784:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2503:
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho handles the matchball suspiciously on February 17, 2015
Read Next:
Mourinho explains Remy absence
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!