Chelsea fear lengthy Zhirkov lay-off as the Russia star struggles with knee

14 August 2009 16:12
Yuri Zhirkov has warned he has no idea when he will be fit to make his Chelsea debut. The £18million signing from CSKA Moscow, the Blues sole big-money summer signing, is definitely out of Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener against Hull City and admits he is struggling to shake off a stress injury to his knee. 'It is not clear how long it will take,' he told Russian newspaper Sport Express. 'I can only dream of starting full training, not to mention playing matches. 'But the condition is improving - the doctors say so and I feel it too. I've tried running on sand and it is painful, but bearable. 'I do a lot of work on gym equipment. Here they have something different: a running track at the bottom of the pool, which I use every day. It helps to tone the muscles. 'In addition there are daily massages, stretching and other exercises. The recovery process isn't fast, but no one at the club is trying to rush. 'Everyone understands that I want to return to the pitch as soon as possible and recovering is my only desire.' The 25-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge this summer with little English, but insists he is starting to learn the language, even if the vocabulary is not ideal. 'Already I understand a little bit,' said Zhirkov. 'I'm able to say things. Unfortunately, I've learned medical terminology particularly well. 'In my spare time I mainly sit in my hotel room as I don't have the mood to go out. So I haven't met new friends. (Radoslav) Kovac is finally coming to West Ham, so we called each other and arranged to meet.' Zhirkov has grown close to Chelsea's fellow Russian-speakers Andriy Shevchenko and Branislav Ivanovic, who are helping him get over a frustrating time on the sidelines. 'Now Ivanovic and Shevchenko will return (from international duty) and cheer me up. Both don't stop joking. 'If, for example, I go to a restaurant it is usually with them. But the other Chelsea players, it seems, already know about me. 'When I returned to the training ground, everyone asked how I'm doing and wished me a speedy recovery. 'And before the Community Shield, someone brought a magazine with a photo of me and Inna. It was taken for a poster of Russia players with their wives and is not supposed to be published, but it has already turned up in England somehow. After all that, they call me "The Model".' Zhirkov has to rely on the internet to keep in touch with his beautiful wife, who is still waiting on paperwork to follow her husband to England. They will then look for a home together before deciding whether 10-month old son Dmitry will join them. Chelsea have provided him with a number of options and Zhirkov particularly has is on on Jose Bosingwa's apartment, should the Portugal full-back follow through on a move to Bayern Munich. 'Options are put forward by the club, but I still haven't looked,' he said. 'But near the house where Ivanovic lives an apartment may become free if Bosingwa moves. 'It would be perfect; the apartment is good and I wouldn't refuse to live near Branislav.' Bayern recently reiterated their desire to sign Bosingwa and the right-back said: 'I won't close the door on leaving because I have to look after my own interests.'

Source: Daily_Mail