Grant will be without four of his key players - Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel - for up to a month when the finals begin in Ghana on January 20 and he is concerned about how their absence might impinge on Chelsea's quest for silverware this season.

The World Cup finals, European Championship and Copa America take place in the European summer months and Grant would like to see the African Cup of Nations held around the same time.

"We'll be missing four players and I don't understand why the tournament is played in the middle of the European leagues and not in the summer," he said.