Blues give injured Terry time off

Terry attended Chelsea's title-winning party on crutches

John Terry will sit out the rest of Chelsea's season but manager Jose Mourinho insists the defender will be fit for England's World Cup campaign.

Terry, 25, needed stitches in a leg wound during the win over Manchester United and is carrying an ankle knock.

Mourinho said: "He's improving every day and will be ready physically to join the national team.

"I think mentally he can forget Chelsea now for a couple of months and start to concentrate on England."

Skipper Terry left Stamford Bridge on crutches after the 3-0 win against Manchester United and Chelsea club doctor Bryan English revealed the player will have a scan on a sprained ankle.

English said: "We put two stitches in at half-time, then took them out at the end and replaced them with three.

"In the second half he also twisted his ankle a little as well, so he actually had two injuries.

"He will have a scan on Tuesday, but I am not concerned about anything and expect him to be fully fit for England."

Mourinho has also offered to help England's World Cup campaign by resting Frank Lampard and Joe Cole from the last two Premiership games of the season against Blackburn on Tuesday and Newcastle on Sunday.

Mourinho said: "I'm ready to let them finish for the season now, to have one more week to rest or maybe have a holiday or go to some paradise."

Shaun Wright-Phillips is also expected to make England's 23-man squad for this summer's tournament but he needs more games not less after being in and out of the Chelsea team this season.

The next jump for JT is for people to look at him as the big player he really is Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

Terry has led the Blues to two Premiership titles and the Chelsea manager believes it is time for people to recognise him as a great player.

Mourinho said: "For me, he is the best central defender in the world, the best. It is difficult to be a better player. All he can do is keep that standard.

"The only point where he can improve is in European football, for the referees to look at him with the same eyes they look at other big players in the world.

"For example, when Benfica played Barcelona, there was a free-kick and Ronaldinho went to measure the 10 yards for the wall.

"If another player did that, yellow card, goodbye, disappear. Ronaldinho, a walk, a smile, a laugh and it's done.

"The next jump for JT is for people to look at him as the big player he really is."