Gary Cahill underwent surgery, according to Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez has given us a bit more insight into the continued absence of Gary Cahill. What was originally thought to be a pretty minor knee injury appears to have been serious enough that it required the defender to have surgery to repair the injured joint. Speaking to the press today, Rafa had the following to say about Cahill's treatment:

"He had an operation, we did it very quickly on the Saturday of the Southampton game"

He didn't give any sort of timetable on when Cahill might be available to return, but the injury likely means that Nathan Ake will have a few more opportunities to make the first team bench this season*. I'd have to assume he'll be out for at least a few more weeks, and any further injuries or suspensions could leave us in as bad a situation at the back as the one with which we finished last season.

*And maybe even play...

With Cahill likely out for at least a few more weeks now, that makes the question of what to do with David Luiz on Sunday even more interesting. Losing the defender for a pair of Premier League games would force Benitez to play John Terry twice in a short period of time, and that is something that Rafa has seemed reluctant to do in the past. Regardless of what he does on Sunday though, here's hoping that Cahill manages to mend quickly from his operation.