Didier Drogba shows he is far from finished

Power: Didier Drogba heads Chelsea into the lead at Old Trafford

A legend devoid of his previous qualities, his previous powers? Not a sniff of it. Didier Drogba is still firing for Chelsea in the Premier League, still offering his services to a club where he is so dearly revered. The legend. He came and he departed having scored the goal to strengthen Chelsea's grip on the Premier League. He is still Jose Mourinho's right hand man and for good reason.

The goal after 53 minutes, a powerful header cascading beyond David De Gea, was not Drogba's only contribution at Old Trafford. The Ivorian was a powerful physical presence, harrying Marcos Rojo and tracking back well. A good day at the office.

He played 75 minutes against NK Maribor in the Champions League and it will be encouraging for Mourinho that Drogba played the full 90 minutes here, grafting laboriously as the lone striker. A stand in? A very good one at it, too.

Perhaps Mourinho is due an apology. His decision to re-sign Drogba in the summer was viewed merely as a decision taken on the basis of sentiment but he knew what he was getting, he knew Drogba was not deprived of the mercurial excellence, the strength and the deft technique which endeared him to Stamford Bridge. Drogba was instantly engaging Marcos Rojo, reminding the Argentine central defender of his presence and the danger he possessed.

The Ivorian held off Rojo, winning a free-kick for his endeavours. Drogba was isolated up front, tending to come deep and provide an option in midfield. The Ivorian’s contributions did not only entail attacking intent. He was tracking back, cynically tripping former colleague Juan Mata as the Spaniard threatened to pull away and spearhead a United counter-attack. A yellow card worth accumulating.

Legend: Drogba wheels away in celebration having given Chelsea a deserved lead

Drogba harried United, prominent up front as he expertly controlled Fabregas’s long pass on his chest and waited for Chelsea reinforcement to arrive. He has not lost the awareness, the footballing intelligence either. It was his tentative, sagacious movement which almost culminated in a goal. Chelsea broke with Oscar, the Brazilian sprinting, with purpose, down the right channel.

Drogba made his move, a rapid dart to lose the naive Chris Smalling. Oscar’s pull-back was beautifully-weighted, accurately into Drogba’s pass. The shot was on target, a powerful effort destined to hand Chelsea a valuable lead, but United goalkeeper David De Gea was equal to the threat, diving acrobatically and extinguishing the danger with a forceful push.

The half-time playlist at Old Trafford was fitting for Drogba’s first start since his return in the summer. The Ivorian spoke publicly of never being at home at Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray. He wanted to return home.‘Comeback’ by Ella Eyre reverberated around the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ and was swiftly followed by ‘How Good It Was’ by the Courteneers.

How good it was in Munich two years ago when Drogba rose gallantly to equalise for Chelsea in the dying seconds of the Champions League final against Bayern Munich which Chelsea proceeded to win on penalties courtesy of what was thought to be Drogba’s last kick in his beloved Chelsea jersey. This gravity defying leap, above United right-back Rafael, brought back fond memories of the Ivorian’s ventures two years ago at the Allianz Arena.

He made his move as soon as Chelsea’s playmaker, Cesc Fabregas, prepared to deliver a sumptious corner delivery, a dart across the United resistance and a distracted Rafael. The header was complimentary, powerfully speeding past De Gea.

What a comeback for Drogba. Ella Eyre would atest.