Diego Costa is the striker Chelsea need- Drogba

Diego Costa is set to confine Didier Drogba to the Chelsea bench for most of this season, but that has not stopped the Stamford Bridge legend hailing the Spanish marksman is the perfect striker to lead the Blues trophy charge.

Drogba made his first start of the season in Wednesday's Champions League clash against Schalke at Stamford Bridge, but he is likely to be back on the sidelines as Costa is expected to return for Chelsea's vital Premier League trip to Manchester City on Sunday.

Yet there is no hint of envy in Drogba's voice as he endorses Costa to fill the lead striker role he enjoyed during his first spell at Chelsea, in spell that saw him play a key role in the west London club winning ten major trophies.

"He is the striker we needed this season," said 36-year-old Drogba when quizzed about Costa. "When I look at him I can see the desire to win every challenge, and to score goals.

"He is hungry for goals and that's the best thing for a team like us. For him to start this season in England, coming from Spain which is a different league and to recreate the same thing he was doing in Spain is fantastic."

Drogba went on to suggest he had a role to play as both a striker and a mentor in the Chelsea dressing room this season, as he hopes his status as a Stamford Bridge legend acts as an inspiration to the younger players in Jose Mourinho's Blues squad.

"I'm here to help but I'm also here to show, if I can say that, to show them the spirit," Drogba said when asked about his leadership role at the club.

"Even if I don't have any doubt about their desire to win, I'm here to help and I will give what I can. I'm preparing myself to give something extra to the team and achieve what we want to achieve."

Drogba went on to suggest he will relish the chance to take on an old colleague when Chelsea travel to face a Manchester City that could feature Frank Lampard on Sunday.

"I can't wait to see him, my partner in crime," added Drogba. "It is a pity that I came back and he's not here any more, but I will be happy to see him.

"It doesn't matter the team where he is playing, I think he still belongs to us. He is a Chelsea player, for what he did. For me, he is part of the history of the club."