Chelsea assistant coach Ray Wilkins has rubbished reports Didier Drogba will be sold this month.

Drogba did not even travel with the squad for the third-round replay at Southend which the Blues won 4-1.

And that led to speculation the Ivory Coast striker had fallen out with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after a tame display in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United last weekend.

But Drogba remains a "very valuable member" of Chelsea's squad, according to assistant first team coach Wilkins.

The decision to leave out the striker, however, was nothing more than tactical, according to Wilkins.

"That was just a selection policy of Felipe (Scolari)," he said.

"We have a very big squad, some exceptional players and Felipe felt Nicolas was the man to take the field tonight.

"Whether Didier will be included at the weekend, we don't know, but he is certainly a very valuable member of our staff.

"I do not know whether Felipe has met with Didier, but from what I have seen on the training pitch, it certainly does not give to the fact they are at breaking point."