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.