The Portugal playmaker, who cost £7.9million from Barcelona, is the former World Cup winner's only signing so far.

At a time when Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and Andrei Shevchenko are all unavailable it is not yet clear whether the 31-year-old will be able to make his debut tomorrow when Portsmouth are the visitors to Stamford Bridge.

But Scolari was confident he would play and prosper.

He said: "On Thursday he hurt his ankle in training. It is not serious - I think - but he did not train the next day.

"Overall Deco is now in very good condition and gives a balance to the team, which is important for us.

"He cannot make all the difference on his own but with the team he can because he always has time.

"He has time to shoot, time to stop the ball and time to play a short or a long pass.

"His character is different and important to us because with him other players can grow."

The Brazilian-born midfielder is certain to be paid close attention by the opposition whenever the ball is at his feet but Scolari was confident Deco could cope with the physical side of life in the Barclays Premier League.

He said: "If he is fouled we have a referee to say so. But his technical control is fantastic. Deco can play in any league in the world.

"He is my only signing at the moment. When they signed a contract with me I told them I want one player - Deco.

"Actually, I would like one more player but I will not say his name. I said if they wanted to change things they needed this player - and they tried."

If Scolari was referring to Robinho, the Read Madrid forward, that move could still happen as the player is understood to be putting pressure on his employers to be allowed to leave.

But if it was another Brazilian, World and European Player of the Year Kaka, Scolari did not hold out much hope of prising him away from AC Milan.

He said: "Kaka has a contract with Milan for five years. If you ask Milan if they want to sell any players there is only one they would not sell and that's Kaka."

Scolari inherited a squad that had come so close to winning both the Barclays Premier League and the Champions League but in the end saw both trophies taken by Manchester United.

But the Brazilian admitted he had arrived at Stamford Bridge with the impression that plenty of improvements had to be made - and was pleased to be able to revise his opinions on certain players.

He said: "Technically - and I won't say their names - two or three players impressed me.

"They were better than I thought they would be. I changed my ideas about them.

"And off the field two or three players who I thought would maybe be not polite and I would have a problem with them proved they were different. They had respect and I am satisfied with them.

"When you watch games from the outside there are some situations where it seems players aren't showing any respect but when you start to work with them you get to know their character and personalities."

But he did not rule out sending for his favourite sports psychologist, Regina Brandao, to help get his message across.

He said: "If I feel in the future that it is important she comes here and the players talk with this lady she will come to London and meet with the players."