Terry fears for post-football health

Chelsea captain John Terry has admitted he has not been 100 percent fit for five years and worries about his post-football wellbeing.

Terry, 30, could be out for months after finally conceding defeat to a nerve problem in his right leg that has caused him pain since last season.

The England and Chelsea stalwart had been having pain-killing injections, but missed the Blues’ 3-0 loss to Sunderland at the weekend and England’s 2-1 friendly defeat to France on Wednesday.

Now, Terry has ruled himself out indefinitely as he concentrates on ridding himself of the troublesome injury.

“The last time I played fit? Maybe five years, maybe more,” he told the Daily Mail.

“I can’t really remember. If you can take an anti-inflammatory and struggle through, you do.”

“A lot of players would tell you that, and it happens most weeks. Games are not so bad because the adrenaline keeps you going, but training on a daily basis when every time you move it hurts – that is a real battle.”

“The pain from this injury is the worst I’ve had. There is no way I can continue but, even on Sunday against Sunderland as the goals were going in, I was thinking, ‘If I had played one more game, could I have made a difference?'”

“I know a lot of people thought I was just ducking out of England but would be back to play for Chelsea against Birmingham, but I’m 30 next month and I’ve got to start looking after myself.”

Terry, who once said he would happily spend his retirement in a wheelchair if it meant he had enjoyed a successful career, has also admitted he no longer agrees with that thought.

“It’s funny – I was reading what I said about ending up in a wheelchair the other day and I thought to myself, ‘You know what, mate? That’s probably not your best plan’,” Terry said.

“I still say if the ball is there to be won I will go for it, whether with my head or whatever, and if it means us scoring or stopping a goal I won’t think twice.”

“But counting medals in a wheelchair? I’d rather play with my kids in the garden, thank you very much. I hope people will appreciate that. I’d like to re-think the wheelchair idea, please.”