Robben out for two months

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February 08, 2005 19:00 IST

Chelsea's Arjen Robben has broken two bones in his left foot and will be out for up to two months.

An MRI scan on Monday revealed that the damage sustained in a tackle by Aaron Mokoena in the league leaders' 1-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers last week is more serious than first thought.

"Six weeks is the average time to heal this injury and then I need a few more weeks to be completely fit again," Robben, who scored the only goal at Ewood Park, told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad on Tuesday.

"I had the feeling directly that it was a serious injury but because of the swelling it was impossible to make a final diagnose.

"It felt different than last summer when I had the same injury on my other foot.

"Then I could walk already after three days but I stayed sidelined for a long period. I hope that it will take me now six to eight weeks."

Chelsea physio Mike Banks confirmed Robben's injury on Tuesday, but said he could be back next month.

"One is a chip on the side of his foot, the other is a small break on the third metatarsal," he said.

"But this is not the traditional metatarsal that has kept [Chelsea midfielder] Scott Parker out for two months. The fractures are tiny and he could be playing next month."

Robben, who suffered a similar injury during pre-season, had to wait until October for his competitive debut, but has since provided the spark for Chelsea's four-pronged assault on silverware.

The 21-year-old has scored nine goals and provided numerous assists as Chelsea have stormed nine points clear in the English Premier League, into the last 16 of the Champions League and the League Cup final. They have also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup.

However he will miss the club's mouthwatering clash with Barcelona and the also League Cup final against Liverpool.

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