Jose Mourinho has admitted that only a lack of in-form forwards has prevented him from using Didier Drogba as an emergency defender.

Chelsea's title challenge is threatening to lose steam with captain John Terry set for a spell on the sidelines due to a back problem, and Ricardo Carvalho is currently the only in-favour centre-back at Stamford Bridge.

After selling William Gallas and Robert Huth in the summer, and seemingly lacking confidence in Khalid Boulahrouz, Mourinho has pondered moving Drogba into a makeshift defensive role despite the Ivorian currently ranking as the top scorer in the Premiership after a remarkable season.

However, with Andrei Shevchenko short of form and other injuries restricting his options, the Portuguese tactician has been unable to hand Drogba a new challenge.

"It's a pity I have also problems in attack because if in this moment I have other strikers playing at a great level I would play Didier as central defender," Mourinho said in The Mirror.

"He is one of the best players in the team at the moment. He is playing fantastic.

"He scores goals and he also fights for the team. He was also good in defensive areas. He is playing absolutely brilliant.

"But I cannot do it because in attack I have also a lot of problems.

"I have no Joe Cole, I have no [Arjen] Robben…and I have Andrei Shevchenko playing very, very far from his level.

"In this moment I have just Didier as the only attacking player and I cannot play him as a central defender."

Roger_Hunt wrote:Makes perfect sense... if only he still had Huth, Drogba at the back and Huth up front.