Lampard back but Terry out of Club World Cup
Reuters - Friday 07 December 2012, 14:10
Chelsea skipper John Terry has been ruled out of next week's Club World
Cup in Japan although vice-captain Frank Lampard will return to the
squad for Saturday's Premier League game at Sunderland.
Terry
hurt his knee in his comeback game against Liverpool last month, having
served a four-match domestic ban for racially abusing Queens Park
Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
The European champions play a Club World Cup semi-final against Mexicans Monterrey or Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea on Thursday.
"Terry
will not go to Japan because the doctor has warned of inflammation and
said that flying is not the best idea so he will stay here and obviously
miss the Sunderland game as well," interim manager Rafael Benitez told
reporters on Friday.
"The
first conversation I had with him, he was quite excited because it's a
new competition and a great opportunity, but after we spoke with the
doctor it was decided that he would stay here."
Chelsea's
third-highest all-time scorer Lampard has struggled with a calf injury
all season and the midfielder has not played since October 23.
"Lampard
has been training today, he's in the squad for Sunderland and if
everything is fine he will go to Japan," added Benitez.
"At
least we have one important player back because we need character and
experience. He is a quality player, he scores goals, understands the
game and is a good passer of the ball."
Third-placed
Chelsea have had a rough recent patch of form and are 10 points behind
Premier League leaders Manchester United who meet Manchester City, in
second position, on Sunday.
"We
have to beat Sunderland and if we can we'll be closer to at least one
of the leaders," said Benitez. "We have a [title] chance as long as we
start winning games."