Russia coach Guus Hiddink has assured Chelsea he won't risk Yuri Zhirkov if he isn't fully fit.

Stamford Bridge new boy Zhirkov has been named in the squad to face Slovenia in the two-leg World Cup qualification play-off later this month, but he will not be risked if his knee injury persists.

"I contacted the Chelsea medical staff," said former Blues interim manager Hiddink, "but so far doctors can't say anything concrete.

"The situation is very similar to the one before the September matches against Liechtenstein and Wales, when Yuri was training with the group, but in the end was not even named in the (matchday) squad.

"If this happens again, we have a good replacement for Zhirkov in Diniyar Bilyaletdinov."