Florent Malouda urges John Terry not to rush back

11 April 2012

Florent Malouda today told John Terry that Chelsea's title bid is in safe hands without him.

The captain flew to Italy this week to see a consultant in the hope of curing the sciatic nerve problem in his right leg that has troubled him since last season.

His lay-off comes with Chelsea also missing fellow centrehalf Alex, who is out for eight weeks with a knee injury, Frank Lampard, who has been sidelined since August with a hernia and groin problem, and the suspended Michael Essien.

Chelsea slumped to a 3-0 defeat to Sunderland without the quartet on Sunday and they will be missing again at Birmingham tomorrow.

The club face Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United next month and Malouda is worried Terry will risk further damage by rushing his return.

The France international said: "I know it's a difficult moment for him because when he's injured he always wants to be on the pitch because he's the skipper.

"But maybe this is the moment for him to take time to really recover from these injuries and come back stronger. We have players who are ready to step in."

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