Andre Villas-Boas has already admitted the next few weeks will be crucial for Chelsea's season. The same could be said for Fernando Torres.
His former club Liverpool, who he left for £50million in January, return to London for a Carling Cup quarter-final tomorrow night little more than a week after beating them in the Premier League.
Villas-Boas has promised to stick with the youngsters despite being under pressure for his job and it means Torres is facing a fourth game in a row without being in the first XI.
The former Porto coach was meant to be the man who could get the Spain striker back to his best, however, the displays of Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge have put Torres in the shade.
He has played just 63 minutes of club football in four weeks and one wonders whether Villas?Boas is beginning to doubt if the forward can fit into his system at all.
It was noticeable how, as the Chelsea dug-out celebrated John Terry's opening goal in the 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, a miserable Torres remained motionless on the subs' bench. He eventually came on but was only given the final 13 minutes in place of Drogba.
Villas-Boas maintains the striker will get a run in the side again and with the club facing nine fixtures in 35 days, he will be required.
Significantly, though, the Portuguese has not reassured Torres that he will be first choice during the Africa Cup of Nations when Drogba could be away for up to six weeks.
Asked whether Torres will be the man to fill the void left by the Ivory Coast striker in January, Villas-Boas said: "We're not worried about individual performances, so for us it's not important. Romelu Lukaku will be available and, hopefully, Nicolas Anelka as well and Fernando and Sturridge.
"For sure, Fernando and the others will have their run in the future like they have before.
