Terry reassured by return to action

LONDON (AFP) –

Chelsea‘s English defender John Terry walks on crutches after the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London, on November 11, 2012. Terry said his knee felt “fine” after he made his return from a two-month injury lay-off with a 45-minute appearance for the club’s under-21 side.

Chelsea captain John Terry said his knee felt “fine” after he made his return from a two-month injury lay-off with a 45-minute appearance for the club’s under-21 side.

Terry damaged knee ligaments in a collision with Luis Suarez in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool on November 11 and had not played competitive football until Thursday’s game against Fulham’s under-21s at Chelsea’s training ground.

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez was in attendance and Terry, wearing his usual number 26 shirt, made an assured return to action before being substituted at half-time with the score 0-0.

“I have come through all right,” Terry told Chelsea TV.

“Initially I was going to play between 30 and 45 (minutes), so I managed to get through the first half and the knee feels totally fine, which is the main thing. It has been a frustrating two months, really.

“I felt fine, totally fine — passing, tackling, everything felt fine. It’s really positive to come through a game and hopefully give myself a chance to be back involved with the first team.”

Chelsea visit Stoke City this weekend, but Terry says he does not yet know when he will be able to return to first-team duty.

“The plan was to play a half, and who knows. He (Benitez) mentioned in the press conference in the week,” he said.

“Maybe it is too soon to get back starting. The lads have been playing well as well, so I know better than anybody I have to wait my time and be patient and try to get back in the squad first, than the team after that.”

Chelsea have lost their last two matches, going down 1-0 at home to bottom club Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League before losing 2-0 at home to Swansea City in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final on Wednesday.