Chelsea suffer John Terry blow

The 29-year-old admitted that he was no longer able to play with the pain of the injury, which he has battled since the end of last season, and is worried he will now have to take a long-term break in order to fully recover.

Speaking to The Sun, John Terry said: "It is at a point where I cannot carry on with it, I used to be able to make it through games because the adrenalin gets you going and you blank the pain out. But now there is no decision to make. After games I'm in agony and not sleeping at all."

"I'm at my wit's end," he added. "I know I won't play against Birmingham on Saturday but beyond that there are no clues. It could be weeks, it could be months."

A brief statement was published on the official Chelsea wesbite that read: 'John reported for training this morning. He met with club doctors and medical team and discussed plans to continue seeing various specialists to try to find a solution to the nerve problems he has been experiencing in his right leg.'