French ace assured of Blues future

The agent of French winger Florent Malouda claims Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has told him he is in his future plans at the club.

The player had been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge following a difficult first season in which he struggled for first-team action under Jose Mourinho and then Avram Grant after joining in a £13million switch from French champions Lyon last summer.

Italian Serie A side Roma were heavily linked to Malouda, but the player's agent Pierre Frelot says he wants to stay and fight for his place at Chelsea and has been told by Scolari he will get a chance to prove himself.

"After a meeting that was held with Peter Kenyon and Luiz Felipe Scolari, I would very much like to clarify that the latter assured us that he has always appreciated Florent," Frelot told l'Equipe.

"He counts on him. Florent is convinced that after a first season where his adaptation was interrupted by injury and changes with the coach, he will be able to fully express his talent."