Petr Cech has been ruled out for the rest of the season
after a horrific training-ground injury left him needing 50
stitches in a facial wound. Sportsmail can reveal that the Chelsea
goalkeeper, who would have returned to the team for this evening's
Champions League quarter-final tie against Fenerbahce, suffered the
injury in a collision with Tal Ben Haim during training on
Sunday.
Cech was wearing his skull cap at the time the incident happened
but it offered no protection as the wound was on the part of his
face which is not covered. His stunned team-mates, who feared a
repeat of the horrific head injury he suffered during a clash with
Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt last season, immediately called for
Chelsea doctor Bryan English.
Cech was taken to the Saint John-Saint Elizabeth Hospital in
London for surgery on a laceration that a Chelsea source disclosed
yesterday 'went right to the jaw bone'. The Chelsea keeper had 30
stitches sewn in the deepest area of the wound that stretches from
his bottom lip to his chin, a further 20 on the outside of his face
and also required plastic surgery 'for aesthetic reasons'.
Although Chelsea coach Avram Grant claimed that he expected Cech
to return to first-team action within two weeks, it is feared that
he may even miss Euro 2008 with the Czech Republic. Sportsmail
understands that English is taking advice from boxing experts on
the recovery time and the worst-case scenario for an injury this
serious is six months on the treatment table.
Grant said: 'I don't feel good about it. 'He was great in
training on Sunday, but it was a tackle between two players. He was
very unlucky to get the injury and we think he will be out for
another two weeks.' He missed five games in November and December
with a hip complaint, four in December and January with a side
strain and has been ruled out of the last six with an ankle
problem.
Although he is currently at home recovering, he has been told
not to rush back into action and is highly unlikely to play again
this season.
