Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka could become one of the most devastating partnerships in the Barclays Premier League, according to Pat Nevin, the former Chelsea winger.

Drogba is currently away on international duty in the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast and so Anelka, who arrived last week for £15 million from Bolton Wanderers, will have to wait to link-up the striker.

But while some claim the pair are too similar in style to form a successful attacking partnership, Nevin insists they could turn out to be a lethal combination.

“Maybe this weekend will see Anelka’s first start for Chelsea against Birmingham and hopefully his first goal as well,” Nevin said. “In the longer term there is the question of whether it will be Nic or Didier or both together up front.

“From the outside it doesn’t look like a classic partnership, but the new boy is talking it up and it just might click. If it does work it could be a devastating strike force, with Salomon Kalou and Andriy Shevchenko ready to provide further options.

“Most defences struggle to cope with Drogba on his own, add Anelka’s power and intelligent running in behind, along with his predatory instincts, then you start asking yourself if there are a better couple of strikers in the league?

“If ever a player has been waiting for the right club it has been Anelka. You cannot say he has underachieved in his career, he has had so many multi-million pound moves, but for his ability he should have won more trophies and at some point been considered as one of the contenders for European Player of the Year.”