Benayoun facing six-month layoff

CHELSEA midfielder Yossi Benayoun has been ruled out for up to six months due to an achilles injury suffered while on international duty with Israel.

The 30-year-old, who joined the Blues from Liverpool in the summer, will undergo surgery on the injury on Monday, the club have confirmed.

Benayoun ruptured his achilles during an Israel training session last week before returning to the club.

“Yossi Benayoun will undergo surgery on his achilles on Monday,” a statement on the club’s website said.

“The Israeli international returned to the club from international duty last week, and will now be out of action for approximately six months.”

That effectively means the midfielder will be out of action for the remainder of the season with any return unlikely to occur before the end of April.

It leaves the Blues short on midfield cover after they signed Benayoun as a replacement for Joe Cole, who they opted to release at the end of last year.

The west London club are also currently without Salomon Kalou, who is due to return to training next week, while Frank Lampard has been sidelined since August after undergoing surgery on his groin.

Benayoun’s worst fears have been realised after returning to London for scans and reports have suggested he will now have the surgery in Finland, where David Beckham underwent a similar procedure.

Benayoun has not played for the Blues since he suffered a calf injury in their Carling Cup defeat to Newcastle on September 22. He has only just recovered from that injury before he was called up by Isreal for their Euro 2012 qualifiers against Greece and Croatia.

While their was disappointment on the injury front for Chelsea, there was far better news for Manchester United.

Owen Hargreaves’ surgeon has suggested the injury-plagued Manchester United star will make his comeback in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League encounter with West Brom.

It is now over two years since Hargreaves played a meaningful senior game for the Red Devils after he was struck down by an acute form of tendinitis in his knees, which he first experienced during his time at Bayern Munich.

Dr Richard Steadman has spoken optimistically about the midfielder’s recovery before, and has now revealed his latest first-team return is looming fast.

“Owen should play some part on Saturday,” Steadman said. “Our physical therapist, Luke O’Brien, has been working very closely with United’s coaches on his rehab.

“It’s been a long road back and there have been some setbacks along the way. But I’ve got a lot of admiration for the way Owen has responded — he’s worked very hard and has never given up. Things are looking good for him now.”