Essien Out for "Several Months" in Injury Blow
MICHAEL ESSIEN
By dixon9
September 9 2008
The news Chelsea fans dreaded on the injury midfielder Michael Essien picked up against Libya at the weekend was announced by the club this afternoon on its official website. “Bison” has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and could be out for “several months.”
"Michael has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will undergo an operation as soon as the majority of the swelling has subsided. We expect this to happen in a week's time.”
"In the meantime, Michael has started rehab in the aqua therapy centre at Cobham which will improve the condition of the knee prior to surgery. A return to full fitness is not expected for several months."
For the last two seasons Chelsea’s main impediment with winning the league hasn’t been Man Utd but an inordinately large amount of injuries far beyond the normal expected to be received on key players picked up during the course of the season.
The good news is that Ballack and Mikel may return in time for the next match away to Man City so let’s hope we have no more key players out with matches against Bordeaux in the Champions League and Manchester United in the league on 21 September.
It will be interesting to see how Big Phil responds if the situation gets worse or Drogba, Ballack and Mikel are unable to return in time. His hand may be forced in that his plan to incorporate more of our kids than previous seasons may have to be implemented sooner than expected.
Meanwhile with no Essien for the Man Utd game Ferguson must be thinking Christmas is coming early – again.
Get well soon
Essien gets injured
Drogba returns
Essien out seems empty, but Deco and Lampard will deliver.
Chelsea will win at stam. bridge against man utd.
Elkanah(Ghana)