Chelsea lose Terry and Cole

Chelsea FC have been dealt a double injury blow with the news that injured defenders John Terry and Ashley Cole could be out for three and four weeks respectively.

Terry blow
Terry underwent surgery today on the knee problem which prevented him from playing in England's UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers this week, while manager Avram Grant was already without left-back Cole, who suffered an ankle problem in England's 3-0 victory against Estonia on Saturday. "JT had an operation today and will out for two or three weeks," Grant said. "John tried his best to be available for the national team and then in the last moment of the training, he got injured again. We have a big squad and we need to handle this situation."

Cole out
Terry joins Cole on the sidelines with the left-back expected to be out for a month, leaving the Chelsea manager short at the back as he prepares for Saturday's Premier League match away against Middlesbrough FC. Both players will also miss back-to-back UEFA Champions League ties against FC Schalke 04 next Wednesday and on 6 November and are major doubts for England's crucial UEFA European Championship qualifier at home against Croatia on 21 November. Chelsea welcome Didier Drogba and Mikel John Obi back from suspension against Middlesbrough, but will be without suspended Wayne Bridge. Chelsea are seventh in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Arsenal FC.