Soccer

John Terry ruled out of Paris Champions League tie

Chelsea defender to sit out PSG first leg with hamstring injury

Chelsea’s John Terry will not face PSG this weekend due to a hamstring injury. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters
Chelsea’s John Terry will not face PSG this weekend due to a hamstring injury. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters
Dominic Fifield in Paris
Mon Feb 15 2016 - 17:10

Chelsea have been dealt a considerable blow on the eve of their Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain after John Terry was ruled out of the fixture with the hamstring problem sustained in Saturday's victory over Newcastle.

Terry damaged the tendon in his right leg in a clash with the visitors’ Aleksandar Mitrovic during the first half of the 5-1 victory and was substituted just seven minutes before the break. Scans undertaken at the weekend revealed liquid around the tendon in the thigh and, although the 35-year-old did play a part in training at Cobham on Monday, he has not been included in the party which departed Gatwick bound for Charles de Gaulle airport this afternoon and will instead remain behind to undergo treatment.

Chelsea welcome Manchester City to Stamford Bridge on Sunday in the fifth round of the FA Cup, a competition which offers them their most realistic route to silverware this term, with the centre-half's omission from the squad a reflection of the importance of that game. With Kurt Zouma ruled out up for up to six months after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage in the recent draw with Manchester United, Terry's absence will most likely force the interim manager, Guus Hiddink, into employing Branislav Ivanovic at centre-back against the French champions at Parc des Princes.

Ivanovic switched from right-back on Saturday, with Baba Rahman introduced on the left and Cesar Azpilicueta swapping flanks, but was not seriously tested by a weak Newcastle performance. Hiddink has included the young centre-halves Jake Clarke-Salter, 18, and Matt Miazga, a 20-year-old United States international signed from New York Red Bulls last month, in his travelling party but neither is expected to begin the game against Laurent Blanc’s side.

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Chelsea are further weakened by the absence of Nemanja Matic through suspension - John Mikel Obi was rested on Saturday and will return to the starting lineup - while Alexandre Pato has remained in England to continue building up his fitness levels. The Brazilian is effectively conducting a pre-season training schedule at present following his six-month loan move from Corinthians and may still be some time from a first-team debut for the London club.

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