Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has been ruled out of action for “several months” by the Blues after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament playing for his country.
The Ghanaian sustained the injury during the World Cup qualifier against Libya last Friday.
In a statement on their official website, Chelsea announced Essien: “will undergo an operation as soon as the majority of the swelling has subsided. We expect this to be in a week’s time.
“In the meantime Michael has started rehab in the aqua therapy centre at Cobham which will improve the condition of the knee prior to surgery. A return to full fitness is not expected for several months.”
Chelsea and England captain John Terry, in Zagreb preparing for his country’s crucial World Cup qualifer against Croatia on Wednesday commented: “I spoke to Michael and he’s obviously had a bad injury.”
“He was saying it was like five or five and a half months.”
The injury means Essien is almost certainly out of action for the rest of the year, in which time the Blues face Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League – all at Stamford Bridge – as well as key Champions League group phase clashes against Roma.
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