The 29-year-old Peru striker scored his second goal of the season at the weekend - both have come against Birmingham - and is determined to earn a place in the starting XI for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final clash at Everton.

Nicolas Anelka did not play in the competition this season before moving from Bolton, but Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are on international duty and Andriy Shevchenko has been out with an ankle complaint.

Pizarro gives boss Avram Grant another option in attack.

"I am trying to do my best, every day and in each training session, so I hope things can get better," he said.

"We have five strikers at the moment but most of them are away or with injury so it is important for me to play and I am getting my chance. I hope I can use it and keep playing.

"But we need a lot of players because we are playing in a lot of tournaments. The training changes a lot, so everybody has a chance."

Shaun Wright-Phillips picked up an ankle injury at the weekend, meaning Grant has to assess his fit players ahead of the Goodison Park trip. Frank Lampard and John Terry are already sidelined.

Meanwhile, Branislav Ivanovic has trained for the first time with his new team-mates after signing from Lokomotiv Moscow last week.

The defender, 23, told the club's official website chelseafc.com: "I've been training individually and I am hoping to get into peak condition as quickly as possible.

"Of course I am not at my possible peak but, with training, it will come."

ends