Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti says fans will get to see the future of their club today when Danny Sturridge makes his first Premiership start against Birmingham City.

Sturridge will now be charged with keeping Chelsea's Premier League title challenge alive in the absence of superstar strikers Nicolas Anelka - sidelined by a knee injury - and Didier Drogba, who is off to the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast.

Ancelotti admitted: "Sturridge had a problem at the start of the season because he lost his confidence.

"It's not easy for a young player to come to Chelsea and stay in competition with Drogba and Anelka. When you are at a big club, you have to expect a lot of competition and I have done a lot of rotation during games.

"You have to find your place in the order and it is normal to take time to settle into a new club.

"He also had some injuries and lost his physical condition. But he has had a month of working very hard and he has improved his fitness and his confidence.

"He played very well in the last game as a substitute against West Ham and maybe now he is ready to start against Birmingham. Remember that he is still very young and I am sure he will do very well in the future.

"He is only 20 with a lot of quality. And he is English, which is good for this club."