Coventry v Chelsea: Zorro (Leon Best) could put Chelsea to the sword

Leon Best has played like a superhero ever since he started wearing a protective mask and acquired the nickname Zorro from his team-mates.

And if Zorro seems to be the word for Chelsea today, will become the most eminent messiah since Del Boy and Trotter saved Peckham in Batman and Robin fancy dress costumes.

Best's visor has become the must- have fashion accessory among Sky Blues fans ever since his stunning header out Blackburn in the round.

And Coventry's Leon king, who broke his cheekbone at QPR in January, may continue to wear his Phantom of the Opera even after doctors have given him the all-clear.

Best, 22, was a target for City's critical tendency until he revealed the deadly Cup underdog behind the mask, and he said:" I'm going back to see the specialist next week, and I've got to keep wearing the mask for another two weeks. But it has been a lucky charm and I'll be wearing it against Chelsea - hopefully I'll be the hero, or maybe even the superhero, again.

" I've scored three goals in the last four games and I've been playing well, so I won't be taking it off, and I might start wearing it around the house as well.

" It's not uncomfortable because it's made to measure. I went down to London, sat in a chair, the consultants took some 3D photos of my face and moulded the mask around the image without touching my face.

" Three days later the mask arrived and it was a perfect fit. Sometimes during a game, the sweat builds up underneath it and I have to take it off at half-time to clean and dry it.

" Now they have started selling replica masks in the club shop, and I'm still waiting for my 10 per cent!" Best's facial accessory has won him more fashion accolades in the Midlands than strike partner Clinton Morrison's dress code, and he winced:" Clinton's a lovely man and a great character, but we really need to have a word with the person who chooses his suits.

He came in before one game wearing a purple suit. He can make you laugh any day of the week." Lone ranger Best has spent large tracts of his career as an onloan ranger after struggling to hold down a place at his first club, Southampton.

But now he is in the mood to tangle with England skipper John Terry and send Chelsea into their Champions League second leg with Juventus next week under a Turin shroud.

He added:" You always want to play against the best, and Terry is one of the best in the world - he's worn a mask on the pitch before, so maybe he will understand what I've been through.

" But I've wanted to go back to Wembley ever since I won a Coca-Cola kids competition when I was at school, and I scored a penalty before the Chelsea- Middlesbrough League Cup final in 1998.

" I've played at Old Trafford, but I was even more nervous taking a penalty at Wembley. I think it was against a Chelsea youth keeper... maybe it was Petr Cech!"

As Best spoke, masks and Simply The Best T-shirts continued to fly off the shelves at the Ricoh Arena. Justin Tose, Coventry's head of retail, said:" The mask thing has been unbelievable.

" We got a few in as just a fun thing, but they quickly sold out. And every time we got a few more in, we've had to order another batch.

" So far, we've sold over a thousand. Heaven knows what the demand would be like if we got to Wembley - they sell for£ 1 each and people seem to have taken to them. It's all a bit of fun."