The Spaniard has failed to find the net since September, whilst teammate Drogba is currently joint top-scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations, tied on three goals with former Manchester United forward Manucho.

Drogba’s Ivory Coast side are due to play Mali in the semi-final of the competition, with a potential final against Ghana or Zambia scheduled for February 12.

All this means the 33-year-old could be available for Chelsea’s FA Cup clash with Birmingham and their Champions League second round tie with Napoli, and Gullit believes Andre Villas-Boas may be forced into throwing him straight into first-team action.

He told reporters: “Drogba, when he plays, he’s still playing really, really well.                  

“It’s a difficult situation also for the rest of the players because I think they all like Torres, they all want him to score.

“But if he doesn’t, what does it do to the result? What does it do to the morale of the rest of the players?”