Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will delay hernia surgery until after the World Cup.

The Ivory Coast forward has been troubled for months with the problem and was set to go under the knife next week, but has decided to put back the operation in order to the avoid the risk of missing the World Cup.

"I play the World Cup and then I will see after what I will do, but I won't have the surgery now, in two or three weeks - no I won't," he said.

Drogba is considered to be key to Ivory Coast's hopes in the World Cup, in which the Africans face Brazil, Portugal and North Korea in Group G.