Chelsea Football Club News

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Roberto Di Matteo

• Ground:Stamford Bridge
• Capacity:42,440

Six-week lay-off for Essien

22 Jan 2010 - 12:19:16

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Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien will be sidelined for between four to six weeks with the knee injury he picked up while playing for Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Essien, 27, was hospitalised during the tournament in Angola with a knee problem picked up during training.

But despite initial fears that he could miss the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage, Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that the injury is a less severe cartilage problem.

Essien will still miss Premier League games against Birmingham City, Burnley, Hull City, Everton and Arsenal and the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against Internazionale.

''He had a tear in the meniscus and he has to stay out for four to six weeks," Ancelotti told the club's official website.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti insists he will not be pursued to enter the transfer market despite losing his midfield powerhouse.

"In January, Essien was not here, he was at the African Cup, maybe we lose him for one month, it is not good news but I think that we will do a good job again," added the Italian.