John Terry injury update: 'No significant damage', recovery expected to be in weeks

Some very good news on the John Terry injury front. Chelsea FC have confirmed that the collision which saw him replaced by Gary Cahill in the 39th minute of the 1-1 home draw against Liverpool on Sunday has not resulted in serious damage to the defender's right knee. Cruciate ligament problems were a major concern after Terry was stretchered off the field, and an MRI scan could not be done until today thanks to swelling. So we'd been left in the dark for an awkward 24 hours.

Fortunately, the scans have now been completed and the aforementioned good news has arrived, which means that an absence that first looked as though it could be measured in months has now been cut down to weeks. This is excellent news for Chelsea's back line, which features several excellent non-Terry defenders but is severely lacking in organisational quality with the captain out. Thanks to his recent suspension, we've seen what happens to a Terry-less Chelsea, and while him being out for a few weeks will sting, it's much better than being forced into seriously looking at getting a new centre back in the January transfer window.

As far as an exact timetable on Terry's return... well, this is the best we've got:

Chelsea Football Club's medical team will conduct further tests over the next two or three days once the swelling has subsided to determine how long John will be out, but it will be a matter of weeks not months.

-Source: ChelseaFC.com.

Chelsea have a number of important matches coming up shortly, including away at Juventus and at home to Manchester City, and I'd be shocked if Terry were available for those, but we'll have to wait and see what the club tells us.