Chelsea have confirmed skipper John Terry has cracked two ribs and will have to be assessed before upcoming matches.
The Blues, who are 7/1 with bookmaker to defeat Aston Villa 3-0 on Saturday, will not want to be without their influential captain as they enter a crucial time in their season, with Champions League and FA Cup semi-finals to come.
The defender revealed the injury had caused him breathing problems during Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg home win over Benfica, when he was substituted after an hour, and scans have since confirmed the damage.
Terry has insisted he wants to play his part in the team, but the club have said they will monitor his fitness closely.
A statement on the Blues’ official website read: “We will continue to monitor it (the injury) on a daily basis and will assess him for upcoming games.”
