Masked Terry set to face Valencia

Updated 09.04 Tue Oct 02 2007

Keywords: John Terry, Chelsea, Champions League, Premier League, football, England, sport

John Terry is set to don a protective face mask so that he can lead Chelsea when they take on Valencia in Spain in the Champions League.

The England captain is recovering from surgery after suffering a depressed fracture of the cheekbone during the first half of the Blues' 0-0 draw at home to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

"In sport, if you get a fractured cheekbone behind a certain point you can play on" - Chelsea club doctor Bryan English

Chelsea club doctor Bryan English said: "In sport, if you get a fractured cheekbone behind a certain point you can play on.

"The chance of getting another blow on the same point is minimal so it is a very small risk.

"The reason John came off at half-time, after discussion, is that if there was another blow (in the Fulham match) it might make surgery more complex and with Valencia coming up, the decision was taken to take him off."

English added of the mask which has been moulded for Terry: "The reason for getting it done as soon as possible is so he can be back playing."

He continued: "I don't know when that is going to be, but the mask needs to fit properly or another blow will just knock that piece of bone back.

"The mask will be taken on the plane with us whether he is going to play or not."