The 27-year old moved to White Hart Lane for £13.7m from Spartak Moscow at the start of the 07/08 season and has struggled to command a starting place.

With 14 goals to his record since signing, Roman was supersub against West Ham when he came on and scored the winner on Saturday.

Speaking to Russia’s “Sport Express” newspaper, Roman said

“When you are on the bench for five games in a row, when the press are getting to you, to come off the bench and score straight away is incredibly important,”

“The goal will certainly give me strength for the battle for a place in the team.

“My belief that I would definitely get my chance encouraged me. I had to keep myself fit and in form so as not to miss it.

“I needed that goal like never before – even more so as it was the winner.”

Grant has been seen in Russia and attended a game also attended by Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea chairman and leading Russian football proponent.

If this is so, then Hiddink would be free to continue as Chelsea boss full-time next season, even though he insists he’s returning to Moscow at the end of
this season.

Grant insisted that there was nothing in the rumours.

“I’m on a private visit here,” insisted Grant

“Is it possible that I’ll take a job in Russia? My answer is: nothing can be ruled out.”

If the voting was undertaken later in the season, Wenger feels that his stars would have featured heavily in the nominations.

“The players who are rewarded are those who played well until February,” Wenger said

“Now is the most important time of the season – April, May. I believe these awards just reward the players of the first six months of the season.

“A player who has been out until January has no chance to be voted, but he can still be very influential for the rest of the season.

“If they vote in May, I hope some of my players would be in there because that would mean we have done well tomorrow and later.”

“However we are in a team sport, and I’m not too interested in singling out players. I am ready to vote what is the best team at the end of the season rather than individuals.”

The return leg at Stamford Bridge this Tuesday is reminiscent of the Red’s 4-1 demonlition of Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

“I believe the team can score three goals at Stamford Bridge,” said the Spaniard.

“We won away to Manchester United, they scored but we still won 4-1. Chelsea could just defend, but I doubt that. They will want to score themselves and that will give us a chance ourselves.”

The nominations, that were released on Tuesday, included Ronaldo and four other United players and is a reflection of The Reds form this year; they are still in the running for five trophies including the European Champions League and Premiership Title.

Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar are also nominated are the other United nominees.

Goalkeeper Van der Sar managed fourteen consecutive clean sheets earlier this season and Giggs is still turning out with sparkling form, with ten league titles under his belt.