Bosingwa out for three months as Blues defender prepares for knee op

12 November 2009 08:28
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti may now delve into the transfer market in January after Jose Bosingwa was ruled out for three months.   [LNB]The 27-year-old defender has been out since mid-October with a knee injury and will now not return until the new year.  [LNB] A club statement read: 'Chelsea Football Club can confirm that Jose Bosingwa underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee this week. His recovery time will be approximately three months.'[LNB]Feeling the pain: Bosingwa faces three months out [LNB]Portugal international Bosingwa has made eight appearances forChelsea this term, the most recent of which came when he was taken offin the second half of the 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on October 17.   [LNB]Blues boss Ancelotti, whose side lead the Barclays Premier League byfive points from Arsenal and Manchester United, was adamant he washappy with the squad following the Court of Arbitration for Sport'ssuspension of the FIFA transfer ban imposed over the club's recruitmentof Gael Kakuta from French club Lens.   [LNB]But he may now be forced into a re-think by recruiting to maintain the Blues' title charge.   [LNB]Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel areall set to miss most of January because of their participation in theAfrican Nations Cup and the latest blow with Bosingwa leaves Chelseawith limited options.   [LNB]The news about Ashley Cole is brighter, although a time scale forthe left-back's return is yet to be made public. The 28-year-oldwithdrew from the England squad for Saturday's friendly with Brazil inQatar after playing a full part in the Blues' 1-0 defeat of ManchesterUnited at Stamford Bridge last Sunday.  [LNB] The left-back had missed three games after initially sustaining theinjury in the 4-0 home win against Atletico Madrid in the ChampionsLeague last month. He returned against Madrid in the return Group Dgame last week but required a pain-killing injection in order to playagainst United.[LNB] Pain: Ashley Cole (right) needed an injection to face Man United[LNB][LNB]Chelsea were, however, buoyed by the news that he does not need to go under the knife following a shin injury. [LNB]'Ashley Cole is suffering from an aggravation of adepressed fracture of the tibia, originally picked up against AtleticoMadrid at Stamford Bridge,' the statement added. 'The injury will notrequire surgery.'[LNB]Drogba has withdrawn from the Ivory Coast's final World Cupqualifier against Guinea on Saturday, although Chelsea have yet toconfirm his absence. The striker remained in London for treatment aftersustaining a chest injury in a clash with United's Jonny Evans atStamford Bridge.   [LNB]Drogba may be fit enough to play in next Wednesday's friendlyinternational against Germany in Gelsenkirchen for the World Cup-boundIvorians.[LNB]  LEO'S LONDON: Forget breaking records, QPR must convince teenage sensation Raheem Sterling to snub Chelsea and CoI like your style! Ancelotti's high-flyers finally please Chelsea owner RomanCHELSEA FC

Source: Daily_Mail