CUDICINI RELISHING CHELSEA CHANCE

CHELSEA reserve goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini has said that he is relishing the chance to prove he has what it takes to be a first team regular under Claudio Ranieri.

The 27-year-old custodian was again given the chance to shine in the Chelsea goal for the New Year's Day clash with Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, after first-choice keeper Ed De Goey was dropped from the starting line-up and relegated to the subs` bench.

This was Cudicini's sixth starting appearance for Chelsea in the Premiership this season, but his previous chances have all come as a result of De Goey being injured.

However, the Italian shot-stopper has now been given the nod ahead of a fully-fit De Goey, and he did his claims for a first-team spot no harm with an impressive save from Gilles de Bilde late on in the Villa match, leaving him eager to build on this success.

"It was a surprise for me to be in the side," admitted Cudicini. "But when you get opportunities like this, you have to take them. I felt good and the support from the fans was fantastic, especially at the start."