After securing his first Chelsea hat-trick at the weekend, Nicolas Anelka was all smiles and looking forward to continuing his impressive form.

The Frenchman took his tally to nine for the season with a trio of close-range finishes against Sunderland, showing that he has carried his prolific scoring streak on from pre-season where he scored six in five games, including four against AC Milan in Moscow.

Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari recently stated that he wanted 'more fire' from his forward, and Anelka is pleased to be delivering.

'The more you play, the more you increase your confidence and the more goals you score, the more you have confidence,' he said. 'I start to be better and better, he wanted fire and put me on the pitch, let me play and today it worked.'

It was the 29-year-old's fourth goal in two games after he snatched one up at Hull, a performance that showed a huge desire after defeat against Liverpool last weekend. Anelka played down suggestions that the side were under pressure to perform after that loss.

'No because we always try to do the best on the pitch. Unfortunately we lost against Liverpool but we know what we are capable of doing, so we try it every game,' he reasoned.

'Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Today it was very good.'

Nicolas Anelka watches as Marton Fulop can't prevent his third goal going in

With less than a third of the season passed, Anelka now has his eyes set on surpassing his tally of 25 from the 2003/04 season, when he was a Manchester City player, and believes the return of fellow front man Didier Drogba from injury can help rather than hinder his aims.

'I will try to do better than this but most important is not me, even if I can score more, most important is Chelsea to win titles this season.

'I wanted to play with him when I first signed and I think it could work but we have so many players and tactics this is the choice of the manager,' he said, before explaining why he thinks he is so prolific this time around.

'Last season I played most of the time on the left or right so it's different, he said "Stay in front and be patient because the ball will come and you will score". I like to touch the ball it is difficult for me to be patient but I do my best and it is okay.

'I like to come back and dribble, but because we have so many players who can do that at Chelsea I have to wait and be very patient. I try to do my best.'

So far this season that has certainly been enough, and Anelka is likely to figure again tomorrow night as we visit Roma in the Champions League.

One of his strikes this season has come in European football, scoring in the 4-0 win against Bordeaux, and he believes he may get opportunities to add to that at the Stadio Olimpico.

'I think we go there to win the game and be secured to the next stage. It is going to be a very difficult game, but the pitch is very big which is good for Chelsea, because we can deliver more chances,' he said.

You will be able to find out whether he does reach double figures for the season right here on chelseafc.com, by following the action on the Matchday Centre, or alternatively listening to the live audio commentary on Chelsea Plus.