Chelsea captain John Terry faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines after it was revealed that he will undergo a knee operation this week.
Terry trained on Monday night ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League match with Napoli but apparently suffered discomfort in his knee. André Villas-Boas rated the ex-England captain as a doubt.
The 31-year-old has not played since the Blues’ 1-0 win against Queens Park Rangers in the fourth round of the FA Cup over three weeks ago, and is now set to miss a number of crucial fixtures as the Blues chase success at home and abroad.
Signs that it could be a nightmare in Naples are already appearing:
He will be out for both round-of-16 Champions League ties against Napoli, the fifth round FA Cup replay versus Birmingham City as well as pivotal league games away at Manchester City and at home to Tottenham Hotspur. Should Chelsea overcome Napoli, he will possibly be unavailable for both quarter final legs.
A regular spectator behind manager Villas-Boas’ dugout during his lay-off, Terry will also be unavailable for England’s friendly with Holland next week, which may ease the strain on caretaker coach Stuart Pearce.
Terry will answer a Crown Prosecution charge in July for allegedly racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during a league game at Loftus Road in October. The delay of his trial prompted the Football Association to strip him of the captaincy, ruling him out of leading his country at the European Championship.
The length of Terry's lay-off was extended to possibly eight weeks:
Anton’s brother, Rio, could have played alongside Terry against the Dutch at Wembley, and has reportedly ignored attempts by his international colleague to contact him in the wake of the racist allegation. England do not play again until 26 May.
Ominously for Chelsea, they have struggled with any combination from the trio of available centre-backs in Terry’s absence. Branislav Ivanovic, David Luiz and Gary Cahill have all suffered embarrassment at the centre of defence, with Villas-Boas keen to stress that Chaill was not his signing, while Luiz was frozen out earlier in the season.
However Terry has arguably experienced the worst season of his career, and Cahill will rarely have a better chance to capitalise on his team mate's misfortune for club and country.
Jose Mourinho has already piled on the misery for AVB: