• 'The talent is there. The question is regaining confidence' • 'The moment it compromises the team it has to end'

André Villas-Boas has warned Fernando Torres that should his lack of goals "compromise" the Chelsea team he is likely to lose his place in the starting XI.

The £50m striker has scored once in 21 club appearances since moving from Liverpool in January and, asked about the Spaniard's lack of goals, Villas-Boas said: "It can never compromise the objectives of the team and the things you want to achieve. It's not just about scoring goals, it's about creating opportunities and he's been doing that. The moment when it compromises the running of the team I think it has to come to an end."

The manager retains faith in the Spaniard and says he is no different from the player who scored 81 times in 142 games for Liverpool. Yet Torres did not make the bench for Spain's midweek Euro 2012 qualifier against Liechtenstein and, with Didier Drogba likely to be fit for the visit to Manchester United on Sunday week, the 27-year-old may be running out of chances to prove himself. Daniel Sturridge is available after a three-match suspension, offering further competition.

"You don't lose your talent because you went 21 games just scoring one goal," Villas-Boas said. "The talent is there. The question is regaining that confidence – that comes with training and time and finding the back of the net. One of our main focuses is getting the best out of the players, to free themselves and exploit their talent. You just have to persist."

Villas-Boas, though, insists Torres has not lost any of his speed or other abilities. "I don't think he's lost pace. I don't think it's even a question – it's related to the space that you find, the timing of the run and the opponents," he said.

Of Sturridge the Chelsea manager said: "He is very competitive in training. You saw the part he could play in pre-season [when he scored against Ajax and Rangers] and at Bolton [Wanderers, when on loan last season]. It's a plus that he is [available] for selection and he can add to the team as well."

Frank Lampard was dropped for England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria last Friday before Fabio Capello reinstated him for Tuesday's victory over Wales at Wembley. Villas-Boas believes the 33-year-old midfielder can still offer box-to-box performances, but said he would have no problem dropping him, Torres, or any other player.

"He [Lampard] is extremely fit. As a player he feels well and can compete with the others and it's up to him. And you see with this kind of competition he has at Chelsea he is selected three games straightaway in the Premier League so that means for us at moment he's up at the top," he said.

"This is one of the top players in England and in the Premier League. I saw through Frank's interview that he made himself available and he wants to keep performing club-wise to be performing for the national team. He has this kind of challenge to himself and all the top players have it, and he's up there with the best." Asked if there would be any problem dropping him, Villas-Boas said: "No."