Chelsea feeling even more blue as Terry looks set to miss Community Shield

13 April 2012

John Terry is a doubt for Sunday's Community Shield clash against Manchester United at Wembley after he pulled out of Chelsea's pre-season victory over Brondby last night.

The Chelsea skipper, who broke his toe against Suwon Bluewings during the club's pre-season tour of America, is one of 12 players struggling with injury ahead of the game at Wembley.

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Scorer: Didier Drogba was on target in Brondby

Chelsea lifted the gloom with a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Danish side, but there are also doubts about the fitness of £31m striker Andriy Shevchenko after he was forced out of last night's friendly with a back injury.

Didier Drogba, Chelsea's leading scorer last season, scored twice in the second half to secure victory, but Jose Mourinho's side are struggling to find their rhythm as they approach the new season.

Mikel John Obi was replaced by Pizarro for tactical reasons in the first half, but there was another positive performance from Steven Sidwell in the centre of midfield. In the absence of Michael Ballack, who has yet to resume full training following his ankle operation, Sidwell is assured of a start against United on Sunday. Glen Johnson, who provided the cross for Drogba's first goal, also impressed.

And Ashley Cole continued his rehabilitation following his ankle operation earlier in the summer. The Chelsea left-back played 30 minutes of the 2-0 defeat against Rangers last Saturday and another hour against Brondby last night. Cole admits he was held back by the ankle problem last season and said: "I wasn't playing to my full potential, but it's free now so hopefully I can play how I know I can play.

"I'm looking forward to the season and hopefully I can start in the Community Shield."

Cole is one of few to impress after a disjointed pre-season programme - they won all three games in America, but have lost at Rangers and drawn with Feyenoord since their return - and the left-back admits that it will take time for a new team to gel.

The arrival of Tal Ben Haim, Sidwell and Claudio Pizarro has created competition for places, but Chelsea have yet to reach top form.

Cole added: "We've got so many great players and it's improved since last season, but it doesn't seem to have clicked. We want it to click and that's what friendlies are for."

Meanwhile, Chelsea are so confident their appeal for Alex's work permit will be successful they have booked him on a flight back to London this weekend.

Although the Brazil defender does not meet the strict criteria for a work permit, Chelsea are confident they can persuade a Home Office panel on Thursday that he can meet Premiership standards. Alex returned to Rio de Janeiro on Sunday after an immigration official at Heathrow refused to allow the 25-year-old into the country following an administrative mix up.

Sportsmail understands Alex ignored Chelsea's advice to walk through customs as a visitor and instead filled in an immigration card, which should have been supported by a working visa. Without the appropriate stamp in his passport, the defender was stopped by customs chiefs and told that he must enter the country as a visitor.

Instead, the former PSV Eindhoven defender boarded the plane back to Brazil and has left the matter in the hands of Chelsea bosses.

Although they are confident the appeal will be successful, they are baffled by the defender's decision to ignore their advice and return to Brazil. Without a work permit, he would have missed last night's win, but he was scheduled to join his team-mates for pre-season training this week. That has now been delayed by a week.

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