Chelsea reveals that Terry will be out for 'weeks' rather than 'months' after MRI

Chelsea has confirmed John Terry will be sidelined for 'weeks' rather than 'months' following the defender's MRI on his cruciate ligament injury.

After being left out for the club's Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk, Terry put Chelsea ahead in the first half against Brendan Rodgers side before being stretchered off in the 38th minute with suspected cruciate ligmanet damage. However, the club has since moved to confirm that the injury is not as bad as first feared.

"Today's MRI scans on John Terry's right knee thankfully show no significant damage to the cruciate ligaments," a statement on the club's official website read. "Chelsea Football Club's medical team will conduct further tests over the next two or three days once the swelling has subsided to determine how long John will be out, but it will be a matter of weeks not months."

Liverpool equalized in the second half courtesy of a Luis Suarez header and manager Roberto Di Matteo pointed to the Terry injury as a turning point in the game, stating the rest of the side missed his influence.

"Well you saw how he started the game. He was old fashioned with his quality and experience and obviously scored the goal as well," Di Matteo told Sky Sports.

"Certainly he’s very influential in our game and our team and certainly we miss him."

The game marked the Chelsea captain's first league appearances since serving a four-match ban for racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.