Terry on mend after head injury
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Article summary
Chelsea FC will monitor the health of captain John Terry after he was knocked unconscious during their English League Cup final win against Arsenal FC.
Article body
Out of hospital
The 26-year-old was taken to the University Hospital of Wales for observation but was later discharged and deemed fit enough to return to the Millennium Stadium to join Chelsea's celebrations. The central defender had been accidentally kicked in the face by Arsenal's Abou Diaby forcing play to be stopped for six minutes during Chelsea’s 2-1 victory after Terry collapsed and lay motionless while medics fitted a neck brace and breathing apparatus before taking him from the field on a stretcher.
Rapid recovery
Terry had earlier made a rapid recovery after being carried off on a stretcher with an ankle injury in Chelsea's 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw at FC Porto in midweek and although he started the final it was left to England colleague Frank Lampard to lift the trophy in his absence. Two-goal hero Didier Drogba said: "I'm very happy but I'm thinking about John. We've had some news that he's feeling a bit better. I was near him when it happened and it looked terrible."
Similar injuries
Both sets of supporters fell silent while Terry received treatment and Arsenal fans joined Chelsea's followers in applauding him off the pitch. Chelsea had goalkeepers Peter Čech and Carlo Cudicini suffer similar head injuries in a match against Reading FC earlier this season and they will be hopeful Terry will be fit to lead the team out when the Blues welcome Porto to Stamford Bridge on 6 March. The scores are level at 1-1 after the first leg.