Benitez backing Terry to lift gloom at the Bridge

Rafael Benitez thinks John Terry’s return to action could give Chelsea the steel they have been lacking in recent weeks.

Chelsea’s grip on a Champions League qualification place has loosened of late thanks to a woeful run of home form which has seen the club win just one league game at Stamford Bridge since Benitez took charge in November.

It would be wrong to suggest that Terry’s absence has been the sole reason for the Blues’ decline — Fernando Torres’ poor form and the effect of a hostile home crowd have been key factors, too — but there is no doubt the Londoners have severely missed the leadership and defensive qualities of their skipper.