Chelsea have this evening confirmed Michael Essien will be sidelined for around six months following a knee injury sustained in training last week.
Essien suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament on the first day of training under new Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas, and has already undergone successful surgery to the damaged joint.
With the same problem keeping him out of action for six months in the 2008-09 season and with medial ligament damage to his knee also sidelining him for several months in the 2009-10 season, the injury perhaps raises fears over the midfielder’s long-term fitness. Essien was a real Premier League force of nature in previous seasons but his effectiveness in midfield has diminished of late, as the knocks seemingly start to take their toll on the 28 year-old.
In a short statement released on the club’s website, Villas-Boas said:
‘Everyone at Chelsea wishes Michael well for his recovery. His team-mates and all the staff and I look forward to helping him return to playing as soon as possible.’
Confirmation of the lay-off will now surely stiffen Chelsea’s resolve in the transfer market, with Blues fans and Fantasy managers alike eagerly anticipating the new manager’s first moves of the close-season ahead of the club’s opener next month away to Stoke City.
