Grant pleased with Anelka contribution during cup victory
Grant is happy with Anelka's form so far for Chelsea
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Sunday, 27, Jan 2008 11:57
Avram Grant was pleased with the overall contribution made by striker Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea's 2-0 win over Wigan in the FA Cup yesterday.
Grant says he is certain the new recruit will progress as he settles into the side following his £15 million transfer from Bolton earlier this month.
During a scrappy game, played on a rough pitch, Anelka was involved in the game's two standout passages of play.
First he produced a brave finish, beating Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to the ball, and then kept his composure to supply Shaun Wright Phillips with a pass to score the Blues' second goal.
Grant said: "One goal, one assist, he played very well today. He is a proven striker, not someone who is a gamble, he has scored a lot of goals and I am sure he will for us."
With Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou at the African Nations Cup and Andriy Shevchenko injured, Anelka's form is of paramount importance to Grant.
"He is the only striker we have in the squad, he did a good job against Everton, and today he did a good job and scored, and claimed an assist," said the happy manager.
The Blues are now in the last 16 of the Champions League, the fifth round of the FA Cup and the final of the Carling Cup. They have also closed the gap to Manchester United and Arsenal to four points over Christmas.
Grant is pleased with his squad's performance since he took over from Jose Mourinho last year.
He said: "The players have developed well over the last three months and have good attitude and spirit, and try to play our game and keep winning."
Grant will hope to close the gap further when they face Reading on Wednesday in the next round of Premier League matches.