Tony Cascarino: Chelsea Legend Didier Drogba will be Mourinho's Super-Sub Next Season

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino believes Jose Mourinho re-signed Didier Drogba with a vision of using him as a super-sub, not considering the emotional value of the player's contributions during his first spell at Stamford Bridge.

The Ivory Coast international will be on the Blues' roster once again after penning a one-year contract this week. The former Marseille star achieved legendary status among the club's supporters after powering the west London club to 10 trophies during his first spell, including his last trophy in Munich i.e. the Champions League in 2012.

Cascarino feels that the 36-year-old will not be a regular starter for the Portuguese tactician. But the England-born former Republic of Ireland player insists that Mourinho will use Drogba's attacking prowess to swing the game towards their favour in the final stages.

"I don't think Mourinho has just gone for sentiment and is bringing Didier back for no reason. I think it's pretty clear that he's not going to be first choice," Cascarino told talkSPORT.

"What he wants is from the bench, someone he thinks can replace (Diego) Costa because he wants to play a certain style. Players who come in need to do a job that's required for the way the team has set up."

"You might only get 20 minutes, 30 minutes from him, but I think he'll be very effective. Certain matches can be won in the last 20 minutes, and certain players can have a big impact and effect on the team. Jose looks at Didier and thinks that's what his job will be," he added.

Cascarino also suggests that Mourinho has brought with a vision to enrol him into his coaching staff once he decides to hang up his boots. The former Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss had hinted last summer that the Chelsea legend will return in the future.

"These are smart people. Roman Abramovich is a very smart man and Jose has proven that he's a smart coach. Forget the emotion, if they didn't think that Didier could come back and do a job for the team, and further down the line in coaching and nurturing the strikers, he wouldn't be there," Cascarino explained.

"Clubs don't just do this for a favour because you've been a legend. If they love you that much but think you can't do the job then you'd be up in the boxes, in the stands on a Saturday afternoon. That's how football clubs are, but they feel there's much more from Didier in the playing sense and also in the players he could improve," the 51-year-old concluded.