Terry's hospital visit is no cause for concern: Chelsea

LONDON - CHELSEA were forced to dismiss fears over John Terry's well-being, insisting their captain's trip to hospital on Wednesday was a routine procedure.

Terry was knocked unconscious after being kicked in the head by Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby during Sunday's League Cup final win over the Gunners.

He swallowed his tongue and stopped breathing for a short while. He was taken to hospital after leaving the field in a neck brace.

The defender came round in the ambulance and discharged himself from hospital after a scan proved all clear.

He then returned to the stadium to take part in the team's victory celebrations.

But media reports yesterday claimed Terry had been rushed to hospital on Wednesday after feeling dizzy and nauseous.

'We stress that the scan was entirely routine and normal procedure for an injury of this type, and raised no cause for concern,' replied Chelsea.

The tests are said to have shown no blood clots or other signs of lasting damage.

But, as a precaution, Terry will now visit the consultant neurologist who treated Chelsea teammate Petr Cech for a fractured skull last year.

Despite the positive news on Terry's scan, the severity of the injury has raised concern over whether the England captain should return to action immediately.

Chelsea face Portsmouth tomorrow as they look to make up ground on Premiership leaders Manchester United, before switching their attention to the Champions League next week when they face Porto.

Colin Shieff, consultant neurosurgeon at the Royal Free Hospital in London, warned that Terry must make sure he is fully recovered before returning to the pitch, reported The Daily Mail.

He said: 'It may take a while to get right. Boxers who were rendered unconscious would not be allowed to go back into the ring until they had satisfied the requirements of the regulatory authority.

'The boxing board of control would not let them fight for two or three months afterwards.

'It is one thing feeling well enough to get back to the team and another to being considered fit to play, even if a scan showed there was no bleeding.'

England manager Steve McClaren now faces an anxious wait to discover if his captain will be fit for the vital Euro 2008 qualifier in Israel on March 24.

'He shouldn't have been playing. He was on crutches three days before the game against Arsenal and was already doubtful for the Israel game.

'With a bang on the head, you don't know what kind of injuries are sustained. It is a worry at the present moment but, hopefully, he is okay.'