Shevchenko scored four league goals in his first season at Chelsea

The 30-year-old Ukrainian scored four Premiership goals in his first season after his �30m switch from AC Milan.

But Mourinho told BBC Five Live: "If he performs and shows me match after match he deserves to play, I'm very happy.

"I hope Sheva can do it. If Sheva plays magnificently I have to play him and Didier Drogba together, that is no problem for me."

Interview: Chelsea business affairs director Paul Smith

Shevchenko's lack of goals in his first season at Stamford Bridge fuelled speculation that he could leave the club during the summer.

They get 10 million visitors a year, so Chelsea will be in the line of vision Chelsea business affairs director Paul Smith on the deal with Disney

But Mourinho insisted that he had no favourites at the club and said every player had the chance to make the first team.

"We have a lot of good players and I'm not the kind of coach that gives places just because of faces or names," he said.

"With me, everybody has to fight for a place and I think they have a difficult task because the squad is really good."

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Mourinho's comments

"What we want is free competition between players and players, with their performances, to influence my decisions.

"So, I'm not stupid, I see if a player is performing at a high level."

Mourinho was speaking during Chelsea's pre-season tour of north America where the club's business affairs director Paul Smith revealed the club was building business ties with the Disney corporation.

Smith said the link would entail Chelsea sending coaches to the United States for seminars during the forthcoming season.

He added that he hoped the link-up would ultimately lead to Chelsea having a presence at Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida

"They get 10 million visitors a year, so Chelsea will be in the line of vision," he stated.