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Page last updated at 12:15 GMT, Wednesday, 21 July 2010 13:15 UK

Chelsea keeper Petr Cech may miss Premier League start

Petr Cech
Cech missed a month of last season with a similar injury

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is set to miss the start of the 2010-11 Premier League season after tearing his right calf muscle in training on Tuesday.

Cech is expected to be out for a month, during which Chelsea play three pre-season games and the Community Shield against Manchester United on 8 August.

The Blues open their Premier League title defence against West Brom on 14 August and face Wigan a week later.

The 28-year-old Czech missed a month with a similar problem last season.

He fell in agony after taking a cross during Chelsea's Champions League defeat at Inter Milan in February, but returned in time to help them win a maiden league and FA Cup Double.

Cech also tore his right calf muscle in a Champions League match against Schalke 04 in November 2007.

606: DEBATE
MrBlueBurns

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is able to call upon Portuguese Henrique Hilario or former England Under-20 keeper Ross Turnbull - a free transfer from Middlesbrough in 2009 - as a replacement.

Cech, a £7m signing from Rennes in 2004, is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

His career almost ended in October 2006 when he required surgery for a skull fracture after a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt.

Cech was out for three months and has since worn a protective headguard during games.



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see also
Keeper Cech ruled out for a month
25 Feb 10 |  Chelsea
Cech could miss festive programme
24 Dec 07 |  Chelsea
Cech sidelined with a torn calf
07 Nov 07 |  Chelsea
Keeper Cech has surgery on skull
15 Oct 06 |  Chelsea


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