The Premier League season doesn’t even begin until August 14 but Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti already has an injury headache to deal with (Chelsea 13/8f to win the Premier League).
Earlier this week it was revealed that keeper Petr Cech would miss the first few games of the season. The Czech Republic international injured his leg in a training session and is expected to be out of action for around a month, with Chelsea’s trip to Wigan on August 21 a possible return date for the gifted shot-stopper.
Cech’s injury means Ancelotti will have to decide which of his stand-in keepers, Henrique Hilario and Ross Turnbull, will stand in for the crocked star for Chelsea’s Community Shield showdown with Manchester United as well as their first few league fixtures (Chelsea 13/10, draw 11/5, Man United 2/1 – 90 minutes).
Brazilian defender Alex has also been ruled out for a month after picking up a thigh injury in training, and with fellow centre-half Ricardo Carvalho tipped to depart Stamford Bridge before the start of the new campaign, Ancelotti could be left short of defensive cover.
New-signing Yossi Benayoun is also struggling with a groin problem and remains a doubt ahead of the Community Shield, although Ancelotti remains hopeful that the Israeli midfielder will recover in time to face United.
To compound Ancelotti’s woes, key-man Didier Drogba has now been ruled out for around three weeks after undergoing “minimal invasive surgery” to resolve a groin problem.
The striker was dogged by the problem last season and at this summer’s World Cup with the Ivory Coast, and Chelsea have now confirmed that he has gone under the knife to correct the issue.
A Chelsea statement read: “Didier Drogba successfully underwent minimally invasive surgery yesterday (Friday) on the groin injury that had troubled him for some of last season.
“The decision to perform the procedure after his return from the World Cup was made to optimise his rehabilitation, and he is expected to return to full training in approximately three weeks.”
Drogba will certainly miss the Community Shield on August 8, while he remains a doubt for Chelsea’s opening fixture against West Brom but the powerful forward should return before the end of August.
Chelsea are currently the favourites to secure the Premier League title but without Cech, Drogba and Alex, the first few games of the campaign could be tricky for the Stamford Bridge side.
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Steven Gerrard has insisted he is happy with his form as England prepare for next month’s World Cup (6/1 to lift the trophy) and believes he is back to something like his best.