Chelsea boss Avram Grant was dealt another goalkeeping blow when Carlo Cudicini was forced off in the first half against Fenerbahce.

Grant lost first-choice stopper Petr Cech ahead of the Champions League quarter-final through a facial injury, then Cudicini was taken off in the 26th minute at Stamford Bridge clutching his right hamstring.

Hilario, who deputised last season when the two goalkeepers were injured, came on but looked shaky when the ball was at his feet.

But he could be called upon again as Chelsea chase the Barclays Premier League, with Manchester United currently three points ahead of them.

Cech admits he does not know how long he will be out for after surgery was required for the training-ground accident with Tal Ben Haim.

"I hope I will be back in the goal soon," said Cech.

"I will have to wait for what the doctor says.

"I cannot do anything right now, two days after the anaesthetic. The club said I should be back in two weeks, so we shall see. I believe it will be so."

Some reports suggested the treatment could continue for as long as six months and Cech admitted: "If I were a normal patient, it could be like that.

"But as I have to play football, we are trying to find a way to protect the wound - to be back as soon as possible.

"My face is sewn, so we must find a way to protect it from tearing again.

"Once this problem is solved I will restart training. But how long it will take, I do not know."

Cech, who was back in training after an ankle problem, confirmed the incident had been nothing more than an unfortunate accident and insisted he did not blame Israel defender Ben Haim.

He said: "We were both trying to stop the goal.

"He wanted to kick the ball away and I dived for it at the same time.

"We hit each other and he tore my face - it was a coincidence.

"When we dived for the ball it was important the goal was not conceded.

"There are 50 such situations during every training session - it was simply bad luck."

He added: "I believe that a way will be found for me to return as soon as possible.

"It should not be such a big problem."

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