Andrei no longer a giant

Ukrainian disgruntled at Stamford Bridge

By Alex Dunn   Last updated: 6th September 2007

Andrei no longer a giant

Shevchenko: Wants answers

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Andrei Shevchenko concedes he is at a loss to explain Jose Mourinho's reluctance to use him in his Chelsea first team.

Mourinho has insisted the Ukrainian striker is not match fit following a niggling back injury, with Shevchenko having not figured in any match squad this season.

However, on the contrary to Mourinho's claim, Shevchenko believes there is no reasonable explanation for his continued non-involvement at Stamford Bridge.

"At Chelsea, I am not playing and I don't know why," he lamented.

"I have not understood this but I am waiting for my chance."

At a loss

Shevchenko's grievances do seem to have some credence, given he played 55 minutes of Ukraine's friendly win over Uzbekistan on 22nd August, and he is set to figure prominently for his country in the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifying double header.

Shevchenko currently finds himself fourth choice in West London, with Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and new boy Claudio Pizarro all ahead of him in Mourinho's striking pecking order.

While Mourinho has never seemingly been overly enthused by the club's record £30million signing, owner Roman Abramovich is both a friend and fan of the disgruntled former Milan favourite.

It was Abramovich that oversaw the 31-year-old's signing but it remains to be seen whether he still figures in Mourinho's plans, upon the resumption of the Premier League calendar after the international break.