BY BEN EFE
Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel plans to hold showdown talks with Chelsea coach, Carlo Ancelotti as he returned from international duty on Wednesday.

John Obi Mikel

Mikel is worried about his future with the London club even as he is frustrated by lack of first team opportunities. Mikel starred for the Eagles in their 4-0 win over Ethiopia in the Nations Cup qualifiers in Abuja. It was his first game with the Eagles this year and he did well for the team.

However this has not been the case at Chelsea where he has failed to make first team starts since returning from a knee injury in December. Mikel was a regular in Ancelotti’s Double-winning team last season but has played only seven of the Blues’ 17 games since his comeback.

“He is 100 per cent fit but is being overlooked and is too good a player to be sitting on the bench or, worse, in the stands.

“He can’t understand it as he was one of the first names on Carlo’s teamsheet last season when the team won the Double.

“He needs to play more. He loves Chelsea but he may have to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer if he is no longer a part of Ancelotti’s plans,” said a source close to the player.

There are speculations that Chelsea plan to offload Mikel and other aging stars in the summer. His contract runs out in 2013.