Premier League: Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel happy Didier Drogba has returned

John Obi Mikel wants Chelsea to enjoy a successful season after missing out last term and is also happy to see Didier Drogba back at Stamford Bridge.

Jose Mourinho’s first year back at Chelsea failed to yield a trophy as his side finished third in the Premier League and lost to Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

Domestic cup success also proved elusive, but Mikel, who was in and out of the team last term, is looking forward to the new campaign after playing for Nigeria at the World Cup.

“I’m getting back up to speed,” Mikel told the club’s official website. “Training is going very well. It’s been tough but you need this to have a good pre-season, and then we can look forward to the season.

“Hopefully it will be a very successful one for the team. Everyone wants to achieve something. We want to win trophies. We didn’t do that last season but this season we are all hoping we can have a good season and win some trophies.”

Chelsea have lost Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole since the end of last season, but veteran striker Drogba was recently brought back to the club by Mourinho.

Mikel initially doubted the chances of Drogba returning two years after he had previously left, but he feels the Ivorian will help to compensate for the departures of Lampard and Cole.

It’s a shame we lost Frank and Ash - two big personalities and two big players – but Didier is back. I think we need a bit of his personality and his physicality in the Premier League, too. He can offer that.

The midfielder added: “I heard the rumours but I thought there was no way it was going to happen. I thought when he’s gone, he’s gone. But then I thought about it a bit more and I realised it could happen because of the connection that the gaffer and Didier have always had.

“I’m glad to have him back. It’s like his home. He’s fitting in perfectly well again. It’s like he never went away. It’s good for the team because he’s a big player and a big personality.

“It’s a shame we lost Frank and Ash - two big personalities and two big players – but Didier is back. I think we need a bit of his personality and his physicality in the Premier League, too. He can offer that.

“He stills gets respect from everybody in the dressing room: the older guys, the younger players, everybody. We are all glad to have him back.”