Duff faces shoulder surgery

CHELSEA suffered a major blow to their chances of resurrecting their Champions League dream yesterday when Damien Duff was potentially ruled out for the rest of the season.

Record £17 million signing Duff dislocated his shoulder for the second time this season during a fall in training at the club's base near Heathrow Airport.

Manager Claudio Ranieri admitted last night that Duff could require an operation to resolve his shoulder problems after this latest setback.

Asked if surgery was now likely, the Chelsea boss replied: "Yes, I think so. But now it's important to wait one week and then we will decide what is the best for him.

"Of course, he could miss the rest of the season but maybe there is a chance to see him again."

Ranieri revealed: "We were training and he had a little tackle with Glen Johnson. He fell against the shoulder and it dislocated again.

"He had recovered his stamina and strength, and he is very important for us. What can we do? Nothing, just think without him for the next matches and try to do our best."

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink nevertheless admitted: "It's a very big blow, for everybody but especially for the strikers, as he gives something extra to the team. It's a pity for him as well as he was looking forward to coming back."

Duff's most natural replacement is Danish international winger Jesper Gronkjaer, was substituted at half-time during the first leg in Monaco as he had failed to make any real impression on the game.

The injury is likely to rule Duff out of the Republic's pre-summer programme of friendlies against Romania, Holland, Jamaica and Nigeria.

Ranieri at least had more positive news yesterday about Cudicini, who is poised to return to the side against Southampton tomorrow.

"His fitness is now perfect. His training sessions have gone very well so I think he will be ready for Saturday," he said.

The Chelsea boss also confirmed that he had words with defender Robert Huth about his clash with Alan Shearer during last weekend's defeat by Newcastle.

Huth will not face any FA disciplinary action for standing on Shearer's groin as the referee did not witnessed the incident, but Ranieri was still not impressed.

"I have viewed the incident and I have spoken to him. He's young and he must understand what is wrong and what is right. That was wrong, in my opinion," he said.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid's director of football Jorge Valdano admits that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has the financial clout to lure some of his club's 'Galacticos' to Stamford Bridge.

Real had apparently cornered the market in spectacular transfer coups since construction magnate Florentino Perez became club president in 2000 but since last summer Russian oil billionaire Abramovich has become the new big spender in European football.

Although he was answering a question about Chelsea's reported interest in Barcelona star Ronaldinho, Valdano's remarks come in a week where remarks attributed to Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri said that the London club could stage a double transfer swoop for Real's Ronaldo and Beckham.

Both players have buy-out clauses of over £100m, but with the Russian's personal fortune reportedly earning over £2m a day in interest, it is well within Abramovich's range.

"We all know that the Abramovichs of this world are watching and that they are able to make investments like this because they have extraordinary fortunes," said Valdano.

Valdano also insisted the club is not seeking a replacement for coach Carlos Queiroz.

Queiroz, formerly assistant to Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, has been under pressure ever since his side lost the final of the Copa del Rey and were knocked out of the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

They are also struggling to retain the Primera Liga title and the Spanish media is taking it for granted that Queiroz will be leaving in the summer.

"We are not looking for a coach," said Valdano.