Fantasy Premier League

Drogba: Out until February?

Thu Dec 06 04:00PM

Chelsea could be without Didier Drogba until mid-February after a knee scan showed he requires surgery.

The Ivory Coast striker has damage to his left meniscus, and the Blues must now decide whether to operate immediately or try to nurse him through the busy Christmas schedule.

Manager Avram Grant is expected to make a decision - in consultation with club doctors and Drogba - in the next few days over the procedure, which will sideline him for at least a month.

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Nothing here says that he's out of the Sunderland match, so I would take a wait and see approach. But I would certainly guess that he'll miss out and if so it makes Kalou, Cole & SWP (Chelsea's presumptive front three) good bets this week.

Comments1 - 10 of 10

In other Chelsea news, Cech expects to be back for the SUN game. Bummer, I could have used the Cude.
From the_burning_pen on Thu Dec 06 04:06PM
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Anyone else think Chelsea will time DD’s surgery so that he misses AfCup?
From the_burning_pen on Thu Dec 06 04:08PM
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Thing is the Drog is very proud of his international career, he's something of a national hero for the Ivory Coast. I can't see him jeopardising that for a club he's supposedly unhappy at. It does however, make a potential January move for the Elk to the Blues more likely, which would be a fantasy dream.
From the_evo_master on Thu Dec 06 04:44PM
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On another interesting point there was an article in the Times this week about Ballack's imminent return and it said that Grant ultimately envisages Mickey Balls playing off the striker in a 4-4-1-1 formation. If he can recapture his form form his career at Leverkusen and for the national side, that could be a fantasy goldmine.
From the_evo_master on Thu Dec 06 04:47PM
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re: 2 doubt it seeing as the drog will probably want to get the operation done now due to the fact that he is patriotic. still ive got to keep him in as i have him at a discount and they're playing SUN
From edwardolivermills on Thu Dec 06 05:41PM
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re (1)- where'd u hear that Cech will return? Would have loved to use Cudicini over the weekend (Cheap option)
From jackal2008us on Thu Dec 06 07:09PM
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RE: 6: and Drogba's knee and Cech's return: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/06122007/4/blues-mon
itor-drogba-s-knee.html
From the_burning_pen on Thu Dec 06 07:58PM
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Thanks for that. Seems I might have to take a chance on Given (2.70).Oh boy!!. NUFC play Bir which is a tough one to call. Especially after Birmingham's final minutes heroics against Tottenham last week. Plus new manager and all. Hopefully grabbing Kalou from the extra points will counter any -ve points from Given.
From jackal2008us on Thu Dec 06 09:38PM
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Having just had surgery on my knee, I'd say Drogba would be an idiot to let anyone make him play through the pain. I tore my ACL this summer playing football, and at first it was suspected that I had a torn meniscus as well. I've had it explained to me as follows: the meniscus basically acts as a washer between your bones, and without it the bones would be constantly rubbing on each other. If he decides to just keep playing, he risks a lifetime of arthritic pain in that knee. If Chelski are at all interested in their investment, they'll send him off to surgery and let Shevchenko and Pizarro do the business.
From mjk437 on Fri Dec 07 03:11PM
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needs to have the surgery done and if rumours are true about the deal already done and the arrival of the buck toothed genius, cant see the problem.
mark life long blue
From mark4c2000 on Sat Dec 08 12:32PM
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