Alex adds to Chelsea woes

Alex may be unavailable until next year after Chelsea and Brazil’s medical teams concurred that the 28-year-old needs arthroscopic surgery on his troublesome right knee.

The former Santos and PSV Eindhoven man had travelled to Qatar to link up with the Brazil squad to take on Argentina on Wednesday, but has withdrawn from the friendly fixture and will now return to England.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti is already without captain and centre-back John Terry, who is seeking specialist advice amid fears he could be sidelined for months due to nerve damage in his right leg.

The absences leave?Branislav Ivanovic as Chelsea’s sole senior central defender.

Full-back Paulo Ferreira formed a makeshift partnership with Ivanovic on Saturday, though the pair struggled as Sunderland tore apart the Chelsea’s defence with three unanswered goals.

“Further to the Chelsea medical team’s diagnosis, the Brazilian national team doctors agree that further investigation via arthroscopic surgery is required on the player’s right knee,” a statement on Chelsea’s official website read.

“That will take place over the coming days. He is expected to be out for approximately six to eight weeks.”