Chelsea's Alex cleared for Cup clash but hernia op rules him out for Brazil

28 May 2009 15:57
Chelsea defender Alex has pulled out of the Brazil's Confederations Cup squad with a hernia injury, but will be fit for the FA Cup final. The centre-half has earned the summer off and will have surgery soon after Saturday's Wembley showdown with Everton. Juliano Belletti is Chelsea's only injury concern but he is back jogging after being sidelined by a recent virus. England midfielder Frank Lampard has recovered from a knock that kept him out of the defeat of Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League last weekend. Joe Cole and Paulo Ferreira miss out with long term knee ligament injuries. Brazil coach Dunga has yet to call up a replacement for either the Confederations Cup in South Africa or World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay early next month that precede the tournament. Among his possible substitutes were Sao Paulo's Miranda, AC Milan's Thiago Silva and Werder Bremen's Naldo.

Source: Daily_Mail