Jose hoping for squad boost

Mourinho to analyse injuries

By James Pearson   Last updated: 6th August 2007

Jose hoping for squad boost

Mourinho: Injury worries

I would be happy just to have Kalou.

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Jose Mourinho is hoping to have at least one of his injured stars back for Chelsea's Premier League opener against Birmingham City, live on Sky Sports 1.

The Portuguese tactician was robbed of a number of key players for Sunday's Community Shield clash with Manchester United, a game they lost on penalties.

With captain John Terry out for a month and Didier Drogba uncertain to be fit to face Birmingham, Mourinho is analysing his options ahead of this weekend's season opener.

The former Porto boss would be happy having Salomon Kalou back against Steve Bruce's newly-promoted side, but believes his side's display against The Red Devils has boosted confidence within the camp.

"I am very happy with the players who took part," explained Mourinho.

"When you ask me about John Terry and Didier Drogba or Michael Ballack, Salomon Kalou or Claude Makelele - all of the boys who were not here - I don't want to go in that direction.

"They played very well for me and I prefer to speak about them instead of the players not involved in the game.

"I now have to analyse the picture for the next two weeks to make my decisions in relation to the three matches we have to play against Birmingham, Reading and Liverpool.

"When you have so many injured players, you hope one or two can be back. I would be happy just to have Kalou. The situation was not easy to prepare for this game.

"But what makes me really happy and confident is that one side was a team almost in the maximum of their power if you look at Manchester United's team last season and the team they played here - it was close.

"If you look at the Chelsea team, we are speaking about more than 50 per cent of the team. But we competed against them.

"That has given us confidence for the start of the season against Birmingham. When the injured players are back, they are back."