Nicolas Anelka, the football nomad who believes he has found a final home with Chelsea, is advising teammate Didier Drogba against quitting Stamford Bridge and making the same mistakes he did.

The France striker may have earned a reputation - undeserved, according to him - for being selfish and uncommunicative during his career across eight clubs in little more than a decade.

But he is desperate to help Drogba, who has made public his desire to quit Chelsea, learn from his experience, in the hope that the pair can form a devastating striking partnership.

Said Chelsea's new £15 million (S$42.6 million) signing: 'When Didier comes back from Africa, I will speak with him because he doesn't know anything about when you leave England.

'I do because I did it and I know that English football and the Premier League are the best.

'I will tell him to stay because he will not find anywhere else what he has in Chelsea. He is a big star and everybody loves him.

'He is nearly 30 and if he goes and wants to come back, it is going to be very difficult. I did it when I was 20. If he signs somewhere and regrets it, it is very hard to come back at 31.'

Anelka, 28, who is expected to be handed his full debut by Chelsea coach Avram Grant against Birmingham today, believes he has finally shed the 'Le Sulk' tag.

'People say that because they don't know me and if you ask a player I played with at Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bolton, they won't say anything wrong about me.'

Although Birmingham have not beaten Chelsea since 1980, they have managed to draw four of their last seven Premier League meetings with the Blues.

And they troubled Chelsea on the opening day of this season before losing 2-3.

Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou, along with Drogba, will be missing from the Chelsea line-up while they play at the African Nations Cup in Ghana.

Striker Andriy Shevchenko is also missing with an ankle injury.

Anelka has already shown he knows how to play against Birmingham, scoring twice in a 3-0 win for Bolton last month.

And the Frenchman believes he can now handle the pressures of playing for a big club better.

'Before, it was a little bit difficult because I was young but, now, because a lot of things have happened in my life, I can handle it,' Anelka said.

'I tried my best when I was on the pitch. I did it for City and for Bolton, Liverpool as well, it was difficult for me at times and there was pressure, but I never gave up.

'Now I am here and I want to show that I can do it.'

Chelsea's biggest boost, however, could come from the return of midfielder Frank Lampard after being out with a thigh problem.

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Birmingham City v Chelsea
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