West Brom manager Roy Hodgson has backed Fernando Torres to overcome his current slump.
World Cup winner Torres is yet to find the net in 11 appearances for Chelsea since making a £50m switch from Liverpool in January.
But Hodgson, who worked with Torres at Anfield, expects the Spain international will soon find his feet and rediscover the form that made him one of world football’s most lethal forwards.
The 63-year-old, whose Albion side comes up against Torres and Chelsea on Saturday, said: “(His current form) doesn't surprise me because he didn't have a good time at Liverpool from the start of the season.
“He has moved to Chelsea and everybody was hoping it was going to be night and day in terms of how he performed and it's not.
“Fernando is working hard, like he did for Liverpool, and it's not working for him. But it will, because he is a very good player and he is a good person as well.”
Hodgson continued: “Chelsea will get a lot of value from Fernando Torres and I think, even between now and the end of the season, you will see him scoring goals and doing a great job for the team.
“But I would rather he had scored a few goals before Saturday because it's sod's law that his first goal will come against me.
“But I won't begrudge him that as long as we've got more. He can have his goal as long as we've got two.”