/world sport
MOSCOW, Russia -- Chelsea's hopes of regaining ground in the English Premier League title chase have been dealt a double blow with captain John Terry ruled out of action for up to three weeks and fellow England defender Ashley Cole sidelined for a month.
Chelsea and England captain John Terry has been sidelined by a knee injury.
Terry's troublesome knee "locked" for a second time when practicing with England at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Tuesday and coach Avram Grant club said on Friday that he has had surgery on the troublesome problem.
Cole damaged his ankle during England's 3-0 win over Estonia on the previous Saturday and both missed the subsequent 2-1 defeat to Russia on Wednesday.
Grant said: "John had a problem and tried his best to be available for the national team but in the last moment of the training, he got injured again.
"He had the operation today and I hope everything will be well. Ashley Cole is injured as well and he is likely to be out for four weeks."
Terry has also been playing in a protective face mask in recent matches, after fracturing a cheekbone in a Premier League game against Fulham at the end of last month.
His long-term absence through injury last season was considered a key factor as Chelsea lost their Premier League title to Manchester United.
The news is also a blow to England manager Steve McClaren with time running out ahead of a possible make-or-break home Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia on November 21.
Cole was particularly missed in Russia, with McClaren forced to field inexperienced Everton defender Joleon Lescott on his left flank. E-mail to a friend 
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