Alex out for six to eight weeks
By ESPNsoccernet staff
November 16, 2010
Chelsea are facing a defensive crisis with the news centre-back Alex faces up to two months on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Chelsea used Branislav Ivanovic and Paulo Ferreira as an emergency pairing in central defence in the 3-0 defeat at home to Sunderland on Sunday as both Alex and Terry were unavailable.
Terry has since revealed he could miss a sizeable portion of the season due to a nerve problem in his leg and, with Ricardo Carvalho having departed for Real Madrid during the summer, the Blues are short of cover for the position.
The news that Alex is out means Chelsea could be forced to rely on Ivanovic, Ferreira and youngster Jeffrey Bruma for the remainder of 2010.
A statement on the club's official website read: "Alex has withdrawn from the Brazil squad to play Argentina this week and will undergo surgery on his knee.
"The defender missed Chelsea's games against Fulham and Sunderland due to his injury but joined up with his national side for Wednesday's game in Qatar.
"Further to the Chelsea medical team's diagnosis, the Brazilian national team doctors agree that further investigation via arthroscopic surgery is required on the player's right knee. That will take place over the coming days.
"He is expected to be out for approximately six to eight weeks."
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