Chelsea will be without Petr Cech for a fortnight after the keeper had surgery to his lips and chin following a collision with a team-mate in training.
BBC Sport understands Czech goalkeeper Cech, 25, required 50 stitches.
Cech has missed the last nine games with an ankle injury and will now miss Tuesday's Champions League quarter final second leg against Fenerbahce.
"He has been unlucky with injuries this year," said Chelsea boss Avram Grant. "But this is football - it happens."
Cech is believed to have been hurt in an accidental collision with Israeli defender Tal Ben-Haim.
Cech now faces a race to be fit in time for the crucial Premier League clash against Manchester United on 26 April.
But Grant hopes he will have him back for the final matches of the season.
"It was a tackle between two players, it doesn't matter who, all that matters is he is injured," he said.
"This year is not a good year for him. It is his third injury.
"He was looking good in training. I think he will be out for two weeks, something like this.
"I don't feel so good about it but every player that is injured doesn't make me happy."
Cech has worn protective headgear during training and in matches since suffering an horrific depressed skull fracture in a challenge with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt in October 2006.
He last featured for Chelsea this season in their 4-0 win over West Ham on 1 March.
1 question:
How does an accidental training injury lead to facial surgery and 50 stitches? A glass bottle would have a hard time doing that. Seems most bizarre!?
BBC Sport understands Czech goalkeeper Cech, 25, required 50 stitches.
Cech has missed the last nine games with an ankle injury and will now miss Tuesday's Champions League quarter final second leg against Fenerbahce.
"He has been unlucky with injuries this year," said Chelsea boss Avram Grant. "But this is football - it happens."
Cech is believed to have been hurt in an accidental collision with Israeli defender Tal Ben-Haim.
Cech now faces a race to be fit in time for the crucial Premier League clash against Manchester United on 26 April.
But Grant hopes he will have him back for the final matches of the season.
"It was a tackle between two players, it doesn't matter who, all that matters is he is injured," he said.
"This year is not a good year for him. It is his third injury.
"He was looking good in training. I think he will be out for two weeks, something like this.
"I don't feel so good about it but every player that is injured doesn't make me happy."
Cech has worn protective headgear during training and in matches since suffering an horrific depressed skull fracture in a challenge with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt in October 2006.
He last featured for Chelsea this season in their 4-0 win over West Ham on 1 March.
1 question:
How does an accidental training injury lead to facial surgery and 50 stitches? A glass bottle would have a hard time doing that. Seems most bizarre!?
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