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Nigeria midfielder Mikel Obi looks set
to miss Chelsea’s English Premier League encounter against Stoke City
at Stamford Bridge after aggravating a knee injury against Tottenham
Hotspurs last weekend.

Mikel hobbled off the pitch after
33minutes in the Blues’ 2-1 loss and will now be expected to be out for
10 days as his club hopes to win their last three games in the race to
win the title.

The Super Eagles star has played a key
role in the club’s league campaign this season, particularly in the
absence of Michael Essien, who has also been another influential figure
in the team’s midfield.

Chelsea expects Essien to be back for
the Stoke clash, after being out of action since injuring his knee in
January while featuring for the Black Stars of Ghana at the African
Nations Cup in Angola, but their defeat at the White Hart Lane last
Saturday further underlined the impact of their Nigeria international.
The Tottenham loss was the Blues’ sixth league defeat this season, and
it was only in the 2-1 defeat at Everton in February that Mikel
featured for more than 60minutes.

Mikel may lack the versatility and
attacking guile of Essien but the former Lyn Oslo star has proven to
been the secret behind Chelsea’s resilience in the defence this season
as the holding midfielder. The Blues midfield collapsed following his
substitution at Spurs and it was no surprise skipper John Terry had to
be sent off following two yellow cards. Mikel’s replacement, 33
year-old Ballack, could not match the pace of the Tottenham midfield
led by Croatian playmaker, Luka Modric and even Deco had to pay more
attention to support the defence rather than orchestrating Chelsea’s
attack.

Impact

Without their Nigerian enforcer to
shield the backline, the Stamford Bridge side have often struggle to
escape defeat. Chelsea’s first loss in the league was at Wigan last
year after Mikel was forced off at half time following a knee injury.
It left the club’s midfield in shambles and exposed their defence in a
game where Petr was sent off. The match ended 3-1 for the hosts as the
Lactics pounced on the Blues’ weakness in the middle. Even the presence
of Essien could not prevent the defeat.

Mikel was still out injured as the
Blues suffered their second loss against Aston Villa in October last
year despite having Essien for another 90minutes at the Villa Park.
Despite playing a key role in the 3-0 demolition of Arsenal in November
in a strong midfield that included Essien, Ancelotti decided to bench
Mikel in his team’s next league match at Manchester City and it
backfired. Chelsea were down 2-0 before the Italian manager called on
the Nigerian to replace Ballack on 64minutes but the match 2-1. The
pressure on the defence sprung up again as the centre back duo of Terry
and Ricardo Carvalho were cautioned before the introduction of the
Eagles star into the game.

Chelsea fourth defeat also suggested
Mikel’s cannot be ignored. Manchester City were leading 2-1 at Stamford
Bridge before Ancelotti removed the former Flying Eagles star for
Belletti on 60 minutes. Both Belletti and Ballack failed to rescue the
midfield and they both got their marching orders as City went on to win
4-2 in February this year.

Mikel, who celebrates his 23rd birthday tomorrow, however played for
76minutes before being replaced a minute after Louis Saha scored the
winner in the Blues’ 2-1 defeat to Everton at the Goodison Park. He has
been cautioned three times in 25 league appearances this season.