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Fernando Torres’ future at Chelsea looks bleak given his substitute’s role, and reports that the club would sell him for as little as £20million. And the Daily Mirror’s Martin Lipton believes the Spaniard’s Chelsea career hinges on his ability to perform while Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are away at the Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Despite an encouraging start to this season, Chelsea boss André Villas-Boas has preferred to keep Torres among his substitutes in recent weeks. The continuing good form of Daniel Sturridge and the return from injury of Drogba has seen opportunities limited for the Spaniard. But with both Drogba and Kalou away for up to five weeks from January, Torres is sure to get more playing time, says Martin.

“He [André Villas-Boas] has got to play Torres,” Martin explains. “Drogba and Kalou are off to the African Nations, they’re going to be there for at least four weeks, a week before minimum, so that’s five weeks.

“Torres has got to deliver. This is make or break for Fernando Torres coming up.”

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