JOHN TERRY will be assessed again by Chelsea’s medical staff today after limping out of the team’s open training session at Stamford Bridge, having suffered discomfort in his Achilles.
The England captain, watched by about 2,000 supporters at an event held in aid of the club’s chosen charity, Help a Capital Child, fell to the turf clutching his right foot after blocking a shot in a practice game. He was treated briefly but eventually retired, with the help of Dr Eva Carneiro, the first-team doctor, and Jon Fearn down the tunnel, appearing to be in some distress.
The injury was subsequently diagnosed as a tweak of the Achilles tendon with the 31-year-old undergoing further treatment at the ground. Chelsea are optimistic he will be available for Thursday’s daunting trip to Tottenham Hotspur, with Andre Villas-Boas’s side still to determine whether David Luiz, who has a slight knee injury and missed Saturday’s draw at Wigan Athletic, will be able to feature at White Hart Lane.
With Alex transfer-listed and not under consideration – the Brazilian’s appearance at Stamford Bridge yesterday was limited to a private visit to the gym next to the stadium – and Paulo Ferreira only a bit-part player at the club, Chelsea’s fully fit options at centre-half amount only to Branislav Ivanovic. Ramires, too, continues to undergo treatment in the hope that he will be fit to return to the line-up.
Terry, who suffered bruising to his knee at the DW Stadium, was able to attend the squad’s visit to children’s wards in the Chelsea and Westminster hospital after the training session. Villas-Boas’s side could be 12 points adrift of Manchester City in the Premier League by the time they kick-off against third-placed Spurs, though they hope they can maintain their challenge.
“There are still five months to go and people would be stupid to assume we’re out of the title race,” said the England forward Daniel Sturridge after the stalemate at Wigan undermined the team’s efforts in inflicting City’s first league defeat of the campaign last week. “We will fight to the last game. The draw at Wigan was frustrating for everyone and it is important we bounce back, which we will. Any team in the top six can win it. We’re one of them.”
Meanwhile, midfielder John Obi Mikel has become the latest Chelsea player to express frustration over his recent lack of games.
But the 24-year-old, who lost his place to Oriol Romeu after last month’s 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool, insisted he would not complain as long as Chelsea kept winning.
“It has been hard but the most important thing is that the team keep doing well,” he said. “As much as I want to play, the team come first. If the team keep winning then I shouldn’t complain. Any time I am called upon, I just want to help the team win.”
GuardianService
