Drogba will not require surgery

The Blues faithful had been eagerly anticipating the return of Didier Drogba from injury, but their joy turned to despair when the Ivorian ace left the Dr. Constantin Rădulescu stadium on crutches after his right leg buckled under him in midweek.

Chelsea were eventually held 0-0 by unfavoured Romanian outfit CFR Cluj, but Drogba's injury was widely accepted to be the worst happening of the Champions League road trip.

Determined Frank Lampard then called for his team-mates to take some of the pressure off hitman Nicolas Anelka by indulging in a goal feast, with every player in the team helping to deliver a tasty dish.

Now, though, the Stamford Bridge side have received some good news - Drogba's injury is not as bad as initially feared and will not require the 30-year-old to go under the knife.

A statement issued via the club's official website reads: "Didier Drogba has had two forceful rotations in his knee and ankle. Fortunately, he has avoided any significant ligamentus rupture.

"He will not be requiring surgery. We will keep him under observation for the next two or three days before putting an estimate on how long he'll be out, but we're certainly looking at weeks, not months."

Flamboyant forward Drogba was forced to cancel planned book-signing event scheduled for Friday afternoon in London, leading to fears that he was to be prepped for a hasty knee operation.

However, a detailed medical assessment on Thursday has spared Drogba from the operating table with its favourable findings.

Still, Drogba will miss the Côte d'Ivoire's World Cup qualifier against Gabon, as well as leaving Chelsea thin up top for a while longer.

Now, Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari will wait for news on Ashley Cole, who has a back problem, and centre-backs John Terry and Alex, who picked up knocks during the Cluj encounter.