Chelsea's Joe Cole to have second scan on knee injury

16 January 2009 09:53
The England international injured his right knee during Chelsea's FA Cup third round replay at Southend on Wednesday night.[LNB]Cole suffered the serious-looking injury late on in the win at Roots Hall following a challenge by former Chelsea player Anthony Grant.[LNB]While he managed to return to the pitch following treatment, Cole fell to the floor clutching his knee minutes later.[LNB]Cole will have a further examination of the problem this morning after a scan on Thursday proved inconclusive. Chelsea medics fear the player may have caused serious damage which could rule him out for up to two months.[LNB]If scans do confirm the club's worst fears, the former West Ham man would miss Chelsea's crucial trip to Liverpool on Feb 1. He would also be out for both legs of the Champions League last 16 tie against Juventus on Feb 25 and March 10.[LNB]England manager Fabio Capello will be keeping a close check on news of the scan. England are set to face Spain in Seville on Feb 11.[LNB]Cole is already ruled out of Stoke City's visit to Stamford Bridge this weekend. [LNB]Chelsea will be hoping to improve their Premier League home form if they are to remain in the hunt for the title.[LNB]Stamford Bridge was a fortress for 86 unbeaten league games but defeats by Liverpool and Arsenal, along with Burnley in the Carling Cup, have shattered their belief. [LNB]Striker Salomon Kalou, who scored the second of Chelsea's four goals in their 4-1 victory over Southend in midweek, believes players are more adventurous away from home because they do not get as much criticism from the fans if things go wrong. [LNB]"Our confidence drops a little when it hasn't gone the way we want," Kalou said. [LNB]"People start to complain and the players try to play more. When you play away, you say to yourself 'okay, I will try it', and when you miss it doesn't matter. [LNB]"At home you miss and your home supporters might be upset, so you don't want to shoot so much."[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]

Source: Telegraph