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Chelsea are interested in appointing distinguished manager Zinedine Zidane to replace Graham Potter in the dugout after a dreadful campaign that has left the club shrouded in midtable mediocrity.

Having sacked Thomas Tuchel in the early stages of the campaign, a decision which “baffled” many supporters, the Blues have failed to turn a corner under the tutelage of Potter, and have fallen in both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup and trail Borussia Dortmund after the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie.

Also mired in tenth in the Premier League, the Telegraph’s Matt Law has recently reported that owner Todd Boehly is at his wit’s end with the former Brighton & Hove Albion leader, who has just two games to save his tenure following just two victories from the past 15 attempts.

Consequently, a host of managerial names have circulated, with Real Madrid icon Zidane earmarked as the optimum replacement, according to reports from Spain.

The French legend resigned from his post in 2021, and has been out of work ever since; distinguished and decorated, Zidane could reinvigorate the ranks and rekindle the winning mentality that has slipped from its once embedded place at the heart of Stamford Bridge.

Would Enzo Fernandez flourish under Zidane?

Zidane, Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner in his playing career, has only held the reins at Real Madrid during his coaching career, but he has enjoyed glorious success during his two tenures at the eminent outfit.

Over his two spells, he has recorded point-per-match (PPM) averages of 2.30 and 2.04, respectively, winning three Champions League trophies, two La Liga titles and the World’s Best Club Coach on successive occasions.

Zidane’s man-management skills could come in handy to reinvigorate the withered crop at Chelsea, with Cristiano Ronaldo even lauding his former boss in a documentary on RMC Sport (via FOTMOB), saying that he “managed the group very intelligently”, and that “he did a very smart job, involved all the players and it was very beneficial.”

Should he arrive in west London, Zidane could channel the abundant potential of £107m winter signing and World Cup champion Enzo Fernandez, who has started well under Potter despite the outfit’s woes.

As per Sofascore, the “unreal” 22-year-old Argentine, as dubbed by Statman Dave, has chalked an admirable average league rating of 7.33 thus far, registering an assist, completing 89% of his passes and making 3.8 tackles per outing, and this robust, slick nature could leave Zidane creating his next Luka Modric, should he arrive at Stamford Bridge.

Modric played 202 games under the “phenomenal” – as dubbed by Rio Ferdinand – French leader, playing a starring role in the triad of Champions League triumphs and two league titles, indeed monumentally winning the 2018 Ballon d’Or following Zidane’s first managerial spell.

As per FBref, the “beast “- as hailed by reporter Ives Galarcep – that is Fernandez ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Men’s Next 8 – the divisions below the established ‘big five’ – for progressive passes and passes attempted per 90, also within the top 10% for shot-creating chances and 5% for rate of assists per 90, which illustrates the sheer scope of his ball-playing skill set.

And with Modric ranking among the top 1% of midfielders throughout Europe’s big five leagues for assists, 4% for progressive passes and 10% for shot-creating actions, arresting parallels can indeed be drawn between the respective gems.

Considering the 5 foot 10 Fernandez’s brilliant feats at such an early stage in his professional career, and Zidane’s experience in successfully utilising the supreme talents of the likes of midfield maestros such as Modric, an acquisition for the 50-year-old could prove to be a match made in heaven for Boehly and co.

The 2022 World Cup Best Young Player winner could use his glinted bedrock to nurture his skills under Zidane’s wing, and perhaps even emulate the magnitude of Modric’s illustrious career.

While Jesse Marsch’s sacking from Leeds United a matter of weeks ago was unsurprising, the decision that was taken in order to replace him was somewhat of a shock.

The Whites cast their net out in search of a swift appointment but were knocked back several times, first by the disciple of Marcelo Bielsa – Carlos Corberan – who signed a new deal at West Bromwich Albion and then by Andoni Iraola who was blocked by his club, Rayo Vallecano.

As a result, Victor Orta and co were left with limited options, ultimately looking towards his fellow countryman in Javi Gracia.

A strange appointment it indeed looks, and when considering he reportedly doesn’t even have a work permit, the hire becomes even more perplexing.

The former Watford boss at least arrives with experience in English football and indeed the Premier League, but it will be an uphill battle to keep the Yorkshire side in the division.

Fortunately, he does have a number of talented young players to call upon, one of which is Giorginio Rutter.

What impact could Rutter have under Gracia?

The year of 2023 has been a troubling one not just for Leeds, who have not won a game since the resumption of the league following the World Cup, but also for new signing Rutter.

Signed from Hoffenheim in the winter, the 20-year-old looks a raw but exciting talent. That said, he is yet to find the net in his five Premier League games and 109 minutes of action.

Those are limited involvements indeed but under Gracia, he could well thrive.

After all, this is a manager who once coached a certain Richarlison to prominence all those years ago at Vicarage Road with the Brazilian – now a £60m footballer at Spurs – playing under Gracia’s tutelage for the Hornets.

Although he failed to score for the Spaniard, he is undoubtedly one of the most notable players the new Leeds boss has worked with.

The Brazil international is a master of the dark arts when it comes to his off-the-ball work, making himself a nuisance for opposition defenders.

But he is indeed a competent footballer too, using his pace and trickery to work openings for both himself and his teammates. It is those qualities that have seen him ultimately go on to score 48 times in the Premier League.

Capable of operating as a centre-forward or out on the flanks, there are clear parallels with Rutter who plays in similar areas of the pitch.

At Leeds, the Frenchman has exclusively played as a striker but with Patrick Bamford now back in the fold, could play out wide. That said, with Gracia previously favouring a 4-4-2, perhaps the duo could operate together in the same side.

But what makes this comparison to Richarlison all the more obvious is their skill set, with scout Jacek Kulig once hailing the “clinical finisher” for his “blistering pace.”

Described as ‘part centre-forward, part jet-heeled winger’ by the Bundesliga website, the 20-year-old was among the 50 quickest players in Germany’s top tier with a top speed of 21.46 mph, just 2 mph quicker than that of the current Spurs attacker.

Rutter’s ‘direct running and mesmerising dribbling’ as per Bundesliga.com only add further comparisons, with such a player only set to get better as the years go on.

Leeds, and Gracia, however, will just have to hope that progression happens in the next few weeks. He will be key to any chance the Elland Road outfit has of staying up.

West Ham crashed out of the FA Cup on Wednesday evening as they succumbed to a late comeback from Manchester United at Old Trafford.

David Moyes’ side led until the 77th minute thanks to Said Benrahma’s super strike but couldn’t even take the game until extra time, with the hosts scoring three late goals to seal their spot in the quarter-finals.

First, Nayef Aguerd’s own goal gifted Erik ten Hag’s side an equaliser, before Alejandro Garnacho curled in a last-minute strike to steal the win for United.

There was still time for Fred to make it 3-1 with virtually the last kick of the game, to ensure that the Hammers won’t be playing at Wembley this season, with the focus returning to the fight against relegation.

How did Lucas Paqueta play against Manchester United?

While Hammers fans might be quick to blame Aguerd after his unfortunate own goal, and his role in the Hammers’ third, there were a number of poor performances on show at Old Trafford.

Lucas Paqueta was certainly guilty of a disappointing display, with Sofascore awarding the Brazilian a woeful 6.2/10 rating on Wednesday night, with only Aguerd (5.9) ranked lower from every player to feature in the game from both sides.

During his time on the pitch, the former Lyon man really struggled with his passing, completing just 34/45 passes with a success rate of just 76%, which is a decrease on the 80.9% success rate he has averaged in the Premier League so far this season.

In a game which required the Hammers to show a measure of control, Paqueta looked panicked on the ball, losing possession on a remarkable 20 occasions, which was more than any other West Ham player.

The £150k-per-week earner was often second best when battling with the home players, as he would win just six of his 17 duels in the game, while he was also dribbled past on two occasions, which again is an increase on the 1.1 times he has been dribbled past per game in the top flight this campaign.

The Brazil international is expected to be the creative outlet in West Ham’s midfield but he would muster just one key pass and one shot at Old Trafford, compared to his seasonal average of 0.9 key passes and 2.2 shots.

Considering the 25-year-old is the east London side’s record signing, he needs to start showing more consistency in a West Ham shirt, as this was another underwhelming performance since his summer switch from Lyon.

One area that does appear in need of strengthening for Newcastle United this summer is in central midfield, with Eddie Howe’s side currently looking rather thin on the ground with regard to options in that department.

The decision to allow Jonjo Shelvey to join relegation strugglers Nottingham Forest has only exacerbated the lack of midfield depth, hence the need for the Magpies to adequately bolster their ranks if they are to push on again next season.

It does appear that the Tynesiders have already identified a possible solution to that problem in the form of Celta Vigo starlet, Gabriel ‘Gabri’ Veiga, with reports on the continent having spoken of the Premier League side’s interest.

As one Spanish outlet claimed earlier in the week, the St James’ Park outfit – as well as both Manchester United and Real Madrid – are seemingly keeping tabs on the promising Spaniard, following what has been a remarkable, breakthrough campaign for the 20-year-old in La Liga.

Another outlet – AS (via Sports Witness) – previously revealed that Newcastle had sent scouts to watch the youngster in action, with the top-four hopefuls said to be ‘one of the most interested’ in acquiring the playmaker’s services.

The Spain U21 international will likely not come cheap for any suitor, however, as he reportedly has a €40m (£35m) release clause in his current deal.

What is Gabri Veiga’s style of play?

The 6-foot sensation – who has risen up through Celta’s youth ranks – has the versatility to feature on the flanks, yet has typically lined up in an attacking midfield role in his embryonic career to date, notably sharing a number of stylistic and statistical similarities with current Magpies star, Joe Willock, as per FBref.

That likeness is indicated by the fact that the two men both offer a real forward-thinking and dynamic midfield approach, with Willock having racked up 73 progressive passes and 57 progressive carries so far this season, while Veiga is only just behind as he has recorded 41 and 66 for the same two metrics, respectively.

That willingness to get forward had also been showcased by the fact that the latter man ranks in the top 5% in Europe among those in his position for touches in the attacking penalty area, while the former Arsenal man – who arrived in the northeast on an initial loan deal back in February 2021 – ranks in the top 1% in that regard.

Such a comparison seemingly bodes well for the impact that the Spaniard can make on Tyneside, with Willock currently thriving after starting 20 Premier League games this season, having earned praise for his form from manager Howe, who stated back in January:

“He’s very athletic, got an eye for goal, technically very good and tactically he is improving.”

To be able to recruit a similar figure in the form of Veiga would certainly enhance the level of competition in Howe’s squad, with the emerging gem having sparkled this season with eight goals and three assists from his 23 appearances in the Spanish top flight.

An “interesting box-to-box midfielder” – as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – the highly-coveted ace has no doubt warranted such interest such has been his stellar hot streak so far this season, having notably produced an “amazing performance”, as per Kulig, against Real Valladolid last month.

While Newcastle will clearly have a fight on their hands to land the Willock-esque starlet, a summer swoop could well prove a real masterstroke.

The major talking point surrounding Tottenham Hotspur at present is the future of manager, Antonio Conte, with the experienced Italian looking destined to move on at the end of the season amid the expiry of his current deal.

While talks between the 53-year-old and the Spurs hierarchy are set to take place in the coming months – with chairman Daniel Levy having the ability to trigger a 12-month extension in the former Chelsea man's contract – it does appear that a departure could well be something of an inevitability.

That has come amid the recent on-field woes that Conte has overseen, with the north London outfit having crashed out of both the FA Cup and Champions League in meek fashion, while also facing a real fight to secure a top-four berth.

A major gripe that supporters are likely to have with the serial-winning coach is his at times dour style of play, with the recent goalless draw at home to AC Milan having seen the Lilywhites produce a "pathetic" – in the words of journalist Josh Bunting – and lifeless display.

Such a pragmatic approach has also drawn criticism from Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville in the past, with the former Manchester United skipper stating back in October that the club's desire to sit back had made them look "negative" and "awful", following the derby defeat to Arsenal.

The same type of criticism also fell the way of Conte's predecessor, Nuno Espirito Santo who lasted just a matter of months in the job, while former boss Jose Mourinho was also targetted by ex-Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas for his typically 'cautious' style of play.

Those three managerial appointments appear to be at odds with what the club's supporters are craving, with the aforementioned Levy having stated prior to the capture of Santo that he was keen to get back to the club's roots, by pursuing "free-flowing, attacking and entertaining" football.

That should well be a major consideration when choosing a potential successor to Conte this summer…

Who should replace Conte at Spurs?

It does appear that Levy could have already identified a suitable candidate to take the club away from this recent, negative trend of appointing pragmatic managers, with The Telegraph reporting that Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou is on Tottenham's radar at present.

While previously something of an unknown quantity after having spent much of his managerial career outside of Europe, the 57-year-old has come to wider attention following his fine work at Parkhead over the past 18 months or so, with the Old Firm outfit looking on course to claim a second successive league title under his watch.

Not only has the Greek-Aussie been able to fashion a truly relentless and rampant outfit on the domestic front – with the Glasgow side currently nine points clear at the summit – but he has managed to do so in a truly captivating and entertaining manner, with his side already scoring 90 goals in just 28 Scottish Premiership games this term.

As BT Sport pundit Owen Hargreaves stated earlier this year, Postecoglou's focus is on implementing "beautiful attacking football", having conjured a style that supporters simply "love" to watch.

Unlike Conte's recent, limp set-up against Milan, the former Australian head coach does not appear to have any shortcomings about taking the game to the opposition, with Hargreaves having stated that the coaching visionary "goes after everyone".

That was evident when the Scottish champions welcomed 14-time European champions Real Madrid to Paradise in the Champions League back in September, with opposition boss Carlo Ancelotti admitting that his side had "suffered" in that first half, despite the La Liga giants ultimately securing a 3-0 victory.

Such fearlessness will be music to the ears of those back at N17, with both the club and supporters likely sick to death of seeing cautious and unglamorous football being played, despite possessing the likes of Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski in their ranks.

While it would be an obvious step up for the "genius" that is Postecoglou – as dubbed by Frank McAvennie – to work with such a high calibre of player, the one-time Yokohama Marinos head coach does appear to have the attacking credentials that Levy and co are craving.

Crystal Palace are interested in appointing Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper this summer, according to The Daily Mail. 

The Lowdown: Three wins from 11

The Eagles decided to part ways with Patrick Vieira prior to the international break and confirmed on Tuesday that Roy Hodgson has returned on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

Paddy McCarthy will assist the 75-year-old, with Ray Lewington returning as first-team coach. The club also added that Dean Kiely will remain as goalkeeping coach at Selhurst Park.

Hodgson and Lewington are hoping that three wins from the club’s last 11 Premier League games will be enough to keep them in the division, with Palace’s last top-flight victory coming on New Year’s Eve.

Club officials appear to be already looking at Hodgson’s long-term replacement, with Adi Hutter and Paulo Fonseca possible targets, however, a manager in work in England appears to be another contender.

The Latest: Cooper update

The Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel provided an update from Palace in the last 48 hours, claiming the club remain committed to appointing a new manager in the summer.

He reported that a number of managers Palace are interested in are currently in work, name-checking Cooper at the City Ground.

The Verdict: One to watch?

Hodgson will be taking on Cooper’s Forest side at Selhurst Park on the final day of the season, a match where Palace will be hoping they are already safe. The Reds are one of Palace’s relegation rivals, so if Cooper fails to guide Forest to safety, a move for the Welshman could become a real possibility.

Cooper, who shares the same agency as Eberechi Eze, has done a brilliant job with his current employers since taking over in September 2021 when they were towards the bottom of the Championship, leading the club to promotion following a playoff final win at Wembley. He has won or drawn more games in the Premier League than he has lost, coming out on top in his only meeting with Vieira back in November.

Sam Allardyce even thinks Cooper would have ‘done the best job of all the managers in the Premier League’ if he keeps Forest up, however, doing just that may impact Palace’s chances of a move.

Cooper could be a name to keep an eye on over the coming months, but Palace supporters will be desperate for the club to remain in the top flight and may not be worrying too much about who could take over from Hodgson at this moment in time.

Liverpool have had a troubling season so far and Jurgen Klopp will be desperate to find ways to ensure his team can qualify for Champions League football next season.

The Reds are currently sixth in the Premier League table and have been knocked out of the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League over the last few months meaning it has become impossible for the club to pick up another trophy this season as they are 26 points adrift from league leaders Arsenal.

Tottenham Hotspur are currently seven points clear in the top-four race, however, Liverpool do have two games in hand on the north Londoners, so there is still an opportunity to snatch that final spot in the prestigious European competition they were only knocked out of earlier this week.

With 12 fixtures to go, Klopp must now do everything he can to get the Merseysiders back on track with a desperate need for consistency as opportunities to close the gap to their rivals for top four start to dwindle.

Fortunately, the imminent return of Luis Diaz could be the key to unlocking a lethal attacking threat at Anfield.

Will Luis Diaz return after the international break?

The Colombian winger has rarely been seen this season after suffering a knee injury that he sustained back in October that has seen him miss out on 29 fixtures so far this season.

Diaz was expected to return in December but after joining the mid-season tour in Dubai further aggravated his injury and suffered a setback in his recovery which was a huge blow for the team, however, Klopp has finally given a positive update on the player's imminent return.

The Liverpool boss revealed in his press conference on March 10th: "Luis I hope (can starting full training) during next week."

Over his 12 appearances this season, Diaz has scored four goals and registered three assists before his absence and had quickly become a fan favourite upon joining in January last year.

The winger made an instant impact on Liverpool's attacking prowess and played key a role in the club's pursuit of multiple trophies.

The £55k-per-week dynamo – hailed "exceptional" by Klopp – ranks in the top 15% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for non-penalty goals, assists, pass completion, successful take-ons, touches, progressive passes received and aerial duels won, proving that he is a huge creative and attacking influence on the pitch.

Cody Gakpo was signed in the winter transfer window to bolster the forward line following the injury to Diaz and the departure of Sadio Mane, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi in the summer.

However, when comparing Gakpo's output over his short time at Anfield with Diaz's contributions ahead of his long-term injury issue, it is clear that the 26-year-old offers much more.

Despite playing one less league game than his Dutch teammate, Diaz has outperformed Gakpo in touches (394 v 259), shot accuracy (53.85% v 46.15%), assists (2 v 0), pass accuracy (80.97% v 70.45%) and take-ons completed (17 v 6), as per Squawka Comparison Matrix.

With that being said, the return of Diaz could be explosive for Liverpool's forward line with his presence potentially leading to the formation of a budding partnership with the equally energetic Darwin Nunez. That's certainly a duo who could cause chaos for opponents over the business end of the season.

Alex McLeish should rightfully go down in the Glasgow Rangers annals as one of the club’s finest-ever managers, especially considering the constraints he had to work with.

The Scot delivered seven major honours, including a sensational treble during the 2002/03 campaign while having to reduce the wage bill season after season and relying heavily on free transfers and loan moves, with the vast majority of these being abject failures.

With all the criticism he received with some of his signings, there was one player who arrived on a free transfer who proved to be one of the finest players to grace the Ibrox pitch during that period – Dado Prso.

Michael Beale could potentially lose Alfredo Morelos this summer as his contract expires in a few months and in a hypothetical world, the manager would dream of forming a duo between Prso and Antonio Colak who would terrorise defences in the Premiership.

Is Dada Prso a Rangers legend?

The term legend gets thrown about all too often these days, but Prso was arguably one of the club's finest forwards this century.

He joined in the summer of 2004 on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at AS Monaco, and he was well known on the continent, especially for scoring four goals against Deportivo La Coruna during a Champions League tie in November 2003.

He scored 20 times during his first term as the Gers won the league and League Cup, while adding another 12 in 2005/06, although no trophies were won during that campaign. He left the club in 2007 following a long-standing knee complaint but McLeish was full of praise for Prso when reminiscing, saying: “Dado was awesome, just awesome, and I’ve kept in touch with him over the years. He is just a wonderful human being.

“When we went up to Aberdeen and won during the Helicopter Sunday year, big Dado played in the Pittodrie wind and rain like an absolute trojan.”

How Beale could make use of his talents now, with Prso in his prime undoubtedly the ideal foil for Colak in this Rangers side. The former Gers striker wasn’t an out-and-out goalscorer, but he used his ability to read the game to get past defenders, making up for his lack of pace.

Prso could drag defenders all over the shop, creating plenty of space for his compatriot to nip in and have plenty of chances on goal and a duo of Prso and Colak, who has 17 goals this term, would surely be a hit amongst the fans.

McLeish had a few howlers during his spell in charge of the Glasgow side, but managing to lure Prso to the club definitely wasn’t one, and he would improve any Rangers team if he were still in his 'wonderful' prime years.

When Glasgow Rangers signed emerging Turkish left back Ridvan Yilmaz last summer, he was naturally looked upon as the ideal heir to Borna Barisic, who isn’t getting any younger.

Fast-forward eight months and the youngster has played just nine times for the Ibrox side after joining for £5m.

Big things were expected of the player but after missing 29 matches due to a hamstring injury, things haven't gone to plan. However, he is back to full fitness now and will be looking to make an impact.

There is no shortage of youngsters waiting in line to take over the left-back slot once Barisic moves on from the club, with the likes of Johnly Yfeko, Alex Kpakpe and Kevin Ciubotaru all playing for the B team and trying to stake a claim alongside Yilmaz.

It might well be none of these players however that best him, with Robbie Fraser, another B team starlet who also captains the team, shining in the Lowland League.

Indeed, he may well have the Turkish full-back looking over his shoulder.

Who is Robbie Fraser?

The 19-year-old will be aiming to secure a new deal at the club with his contract set to expire but judging by his recent form, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Upon signing his last contract in February 2022, Fraser said: “I feel like I’m getting closer to making that next step into the first team, hopefully. I felt that it was the right opportunity to push on.”

He has played 36 matches this season for the B team, scoring twice and registering six assists with his ability to provide an attacking threat comparable to Barisic.

The Croat so often rampages down the left-hand side in order to deliver crosses or passes into the box, while also being a dab hand at set pieces too having registered 55 goal involvements in Scotland.

Indeed, Fraser enjoys the odd free kick too, having scored a “superb” effort – according to Jordan Campbell – during a match last year and this could be an added bonus for Michael Beale.

Fraser has made the Rangers matchday squad on three occasions this term, once each in the Premiership, Champions League and League Cup without emerging from the bench, however, this experience will stand him in good stead for the future.

Showing clear leadership skills having led the B side to second in the Lowland League table with a chance of winning the division, could he have a future in the first-team squad?

Only time will tell, but with a new era underway at Ibrox, he may well have a great chance.

Chelsea's shocking Premier League season continued on Saturday afternoon as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat against struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

How did Frank Lampard's second spell in charge of Chelsea begin?

Frank Lampard, who was appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the season earlier in the week, was perhaps never likely to inspire a revolution in the Blues side – and it was the same old problems that haunted Chelsea in their defeat.

Although Matheus Nunes' goal was worthy of winning any football match, Chelsea did little to respond, mustering just one shot on target in what was another woeful attacking display in the Midlands.

With Real Madrid to come on Wednesday, Lampard will need a miracle if he is going to steer the Blues through to the next round, as Saturday marked the third successive game without a goal for the west London side.

The 44-year-old manager will have a lot to think about ahead of the trip to face the European champions, but he can take solace in the fact that Reece James was superb at right-back, despite the defeat at Molineux.

How did Reece James play against Wolves?

Having played against Aston Villa as a centre-back and faced Liverpool as a wing-back, the England international took on his third different position of the week against Wolves, featuring at right-back in their 4-3-3 setup.

As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old would earn an impressive 7.9/10 rating, which was the best of any player to feature in the game from both sides, as he enjoyed 99 touches of the ball.

During the 90 minutes, the former Wigan Athletic loanee was dominant from an attacking and defensive perspective, registering three tackles and three clearances, while he also won 10/14 duels.

Considering he has averaged just two tackles and 0.7 clearances per game in the Premier League this season, it is clear that he raised his game at Molineux, although it is perhaps worrying from Chelsea's perspective that he was so busy.

James also managed an impressive five key passes, four dribbles and completed 95% of his passes, which again were significant increases on his seasonal averages of 1.4 key passes, 1.5 dribbles and a 90.7% pass success rate.

The versatile defender, who was previously dubbed "phenomenal" by Ally McCoist, shouldn't be relied upon as the main source of creativity in this Chelsea side, but he is one of few players that can escape with any credit after another dour display at Molineux.

Although Chelsea's chances are slim, Lampard will be relying on James to be on top form again in midweek for the crunch Champions League clash in Madrid.