John Terry gave Chelsea a major fright yesterday after limping out of the club's open training day at Stamford Bridge. Thousands of watching supporters had their hearts in their mouths when Terry hobbled out of a practice match towards the end of the 90-minute session and went down clutching his right ankle.
The Chelsea captain failed to respond to on-field treatment and had to be helped from the pitch by two club medics, looking in some distress as he disappeared down the tunnel. Fears were immediately raised over the 31-year-old's fitness for Thursday night's crucial Premier League game at Tottenham, but the Blues quickly allayed those following further treatment.
Terry's problem was diagnosed as an Achilles tendon tweak suffered when he blocked a shot, with the club having no doubt he would be available for the trip to White Hart Lane.
Tottenham midfielder Sandro, meawhile, believes that should Tottenham overcome Chelsea they can be considered title contenders. "We can make a statement if we win against Chelsea," he said. "It will give us the belief that we can win the league."
Spurs sit in third place, seven points behind the leaders Manchester City but with a game in hand, and are enjoying their best start to a top-flight campaign in 51 years, since the 1960-61 season when they last took the title and recorded 14 wins from their first 15 games.
The 22-year-old Brazilian scored his first, and so far only, goal for Spurs in last season's 2-1 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with a spectacular, 30-yard half-volley. "That goal is my favourite Tottenham memory and I will try to score again," he said.
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