Chelsea hit by injury woes
Friday, 23 July 2010 21:50
Premier League champions Chelsea have suffered further injury problems with defender Alex likely to be ruled out for a month because of thigh trouble.
The 28-year-old Brazilian international centre-half, who made his Chelsea debut in 2007, was injured in training.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech is also expected to be sidelined for around a month because of a calf problem.
And former Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun, who signed for £5.5m this month, is out with a groin injury.
The injury is likely to keep Alex out of Chelsea's Premier League opener against West Brom on 14 August.
Cech's absence gives Ross Turnbull and Hilario a chance to stake a claim for the keeper's jersey during the pre-season friendly against Martin Jol's Ajax on Friday.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti said: "I think that against Ajax we will play 45 minutes each for Turnbull and Hilario, and I think Turnbull will start the game.
"There are no more coming that didn't play against Crystal Palace, so Yossi Benayoun is out and Alex has a problem in his thigh but with the other players it is the same squad."
He added: "It is a pre-season match so we don't have too many targets, just to improve our condition and put the players in better condition for the start of the season."
