Avram Grant has denied speculation that John Terry’s return from injury has been delayed by stating the the length of absence is still six to eight weeks as originally stated last month.

Terry is nursing three broken bones in his foot and there were stories all over the web today suggesting that he could well be out for the rest of the season. That’s been flatly denied by Grant.

“There has been a lot of speculation, but the situation is exactly the same as it was two weeks ago”, he remarked in today’s press conference.

“It is a minimum of six weeks to eight weeks from the injury.”

If Grant’s latest claims are correct then Chelsea would hope to have Terry back for the clash with Liverpool on February 10 although the Premiership game against Spurs a fortnight later is perhaps more likely. Until then Alex and Carvalho appear to be the first choice pairing unless of course Grant can seal the signing of Ivanovic which is strongly rumoured to be on the cards.