Goal-shy Shevchenko gets Mourinho's backing

LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) Chelsea have raced five points clear in their Champions League group and share the lead in the Premier League despite a goal drought from their top close-season signing Andriy Shevchenko.

Manager Jose Mourinho has no plans to drop the 29 million pound (54.04 million dollar) Ukrainian striker, however, and has praised his contribution to the team.

It was Shevchenko's strike partner Didier Drogba whose stunning 47th-minute goal earned the English champions a 1-0 win over holders Barcelona in the Champions League yesterday.

Added to his first hat-trick for Chelsea in their comfortable 3-1 win at Levski Sofia last month, the goal made Drogba the leading marksman in the competition so far.

Shevchenko, the top active scorer in UEFA competition with 56 goals for Dynamo Kiev and AC Milan, has yet to get off the mark in the Champions League for his new club.

He has not scored in nine games since Chelsea's only defeat in the Premier League so far, by Middlesbrough on August 23.

But Mourinho is sticking by his acquisition and is sure he will come good.

Asked whether he would continue to pick the 30-year-old Mourinho said emphatically: ''Every game, yes, unless he has a problem or unless I decide to give him a rest in terms of rotation''.

Mourinho added that with a packed schedule the striker might need a game out to take a breather. Shevchenko has played every game so far this season for the English champions.

Against Barca he showed flashes of sublime skill and came close in both halves. Mourinho said his contribution was invaluable.

''Didier and Shevchenko both won the game as well as the other nine players on the pitch,'' he added.

''Maybe in March Sheva is scoring and Didier is not scoring so much. We play as a team and the team is more important than the individuals in the team.'' Chelsea beat Werder Bremen 2-0 in their Group A opener and three wins out of three so far mean they are almost certain to reach the knockout stages, offering Shevchenko another window of goalscoring opportunity.

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