Chelsea v Newcastle Utd:Petr Cech has rejected suggestions he will be affected by fear when he returns for Chelsea after fracturing his skull in a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt. The goalkeeper emphasised before tonight's home game against Newcastle United that his rehabilitation is progressing well and said he expects to come back stronger than ever.
Diving at the boots of opponents is a crucial part of keeper's job and questions have been raised about whether Cech will be reluctant to do that after the way he sustained the injury in October. The 24-year-old insists he has no such worries and hopes to practice in goal next month for the first time since the incident.
Cech is encouraged by the experience of Carlo Cudicini, his team-mate who was knocked unconscious at Reading and returned just over three weeks later. "Everyone is asking if I am afraid when I am back," Cech said, "but Carlo said the main thing: 'How can I be afraid of something I don't even remember?' That is exactly what it is going to be with me, because I don't remember anything from the game. I don't even remember the injury. I woke up three days later and I had already 30 stitches on my head and it was difficult for me. But that game I don't remember so I don't think I am going to be afraid.
"Last week I spent a whole day in Oxford with the surgeon for some consultations and some tests. We are still waiting for the report from that but, as far as I am concerned, we are looking very positive. The brain is working very well and I haven't lost anything I had, so for the moment it is looking very well.
"There is still time to go with the skull fracture because it has not healed and I have to be patient with that, but hopefully that will go quickly as well."
Cech returned to Chelsea's training ground several weeks ago and has done light rehabilitation work. He is on course to pull on his gloves again next month and hopes to be available for selection between mid-February and mid-March. Hilario will continue in goal at home to Newcastle tonight if Cudicini fails to recover from a leg muscle injury.
"It is looking like about the middle of January that I will be able to start training in goal," said Cech. "So I will just try to enjoy the time with my family, enjoy the time with the lads at the training ground and now I have plenty of time to work. When I am back I will be much stronger than before because I will have another three months, or eight weeks, to work hard and I am really enjoying this part of the injury, even though it is really hard to accept that you can't play. You have to see everyone playing on the pitch, working, laughing during the training sessions - which I can't do - but I am still enjoying myself because I know it is going to make me stronger."
Cech is, though, still adjusting to the workload. "Of course I am tired when I do the training session because my body is still a little bit tired," he said. "But it has improved massively because I can work twice a day."
The Czech Republic international, who said he has become better at watching Chelsea games after initially finding it "horrible", has received the go-ahead to use the gym, the swimming pool and play tennis. Joe Cole is out for a month with a broken foot but otherwise coach Jose Mourinho has no other major injury worries as he attempts to close the gap on Manchester United to five points.
Newcastle midfielder Nicky Butt has shaken off a virus. Striker Antoine Sibierski should also be fit after his hamstring problem at Blackburn at the weekend proved to be cramp, while Kieron Dyer (thigh) and Scott Parker (back muscle) could be fit for the clash with Watford on Saturday.
However, Emre (ankle) and Nolberto Solano (groin) have joined Michael Owen, Damien Duff and Tim Krul (all knee), Shola Ameobi and Olivier Bernard (both hip), Craig Moore (hamstring), Titus Bramble (calf), Stephen Carr (foot) and Steve Harper (groin) on the injury list.
Guardian Service
