London, Feb 13(ANI): Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has challenged his Manchester United counterpart Wayne Rooney that he will score more goals to finish as the top scorer of the Premier League this season.

Rooney is just a goal ahead with 23 goals to Drogba’s 22 in all competitions, but that could change on Saturday, as Chelsea take on Cardiff in the FA Cup fifth round, while United take a breather after being knocked out by Leeds.

“I want to be the top scorer in England. I want to make sure people remember ‘Drogba the Warrior’ in this campaign,” The Sun quoted Drogba, as saying. “My absence at the African Nations Cup could end up being decisive. It gave an advantage to Wayne and my other rivals, but I warn them I shall be fighting until the very last match,” he added.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Jermain Defoe is next in the scoring chart with 20 goals, followed by Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez (18) and Darren Bent of Sunderland (15), but the race is on between the two leading hitmen.

The Ivory Coast star holds Rooney in the greatest of respect, but is determined to overtake him and then keep him at arm’s length. “The race between myself and Rooney will be beautiful and it’s my objective to arrive at the finishing post first. I don’t think about the exact number of goals I shall need, but it will be necessary for me to pass 30 if I am to be the No 1 - and this is possible,” Drogba said.

“Rooney is a big forward and playing at a really high level. But there are still many matches to go and I intend to soar above him in the goal stakes,” he added. (ANI)