Luiz facing extended absence but Terry ready for Chelsea return
David Luiz appeared for little more than 20 minutes of Chelsea’s Capital One Cup semi-final second-leg draw with Swansea City but managed to damage his calf muscle, potentially ruling the Brazil international out of action for weeks on end, the Daily Mail reports. But the news is not all bad for Rafael Benitez, as John Terry is said to be ready to return to the starting XI.
Terry has yet to start a match under Benitez after suffering an injury against Liverpool in November, around a week before the Spaniard was appointed in place of Roberto Di Matteo. Terry came off the bench to play the final 10 minutes of Chelsea’s 4-0 Premier League win over Stoke City earlier in January, returning after almost exactly two months on the injury list.
The Chelsea captain is though available to play in the FA Cup against Brentford on Saturday, having been an unused substitute in midweek against Swansea. The timing of Terry’s return to optimum fitness could not be better for Benitez, the Mail reports, as the Chelsea squad was heavily depleted by international duty before Luiz suffered his injury.
Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel are at the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria while Eden Hazard is facing a three-game ban after being sent off against the Swans for his infamous altercation with a ball boy. Luiz had been used in midfield by Benitez but was already struggling with a number of niggles and knocks before suffering a more serious injury at the Liberty Stadium.
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