Chelsea caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo has admitted John Terry was at risk of further damaging his cracked ribs every time he took to the field.
Di Matteo confirmed Terry would miss the Barclays Premier League game against Wigan as the Blues look to manage the injury that left their captain struggling to breathe during Wednesday night's Champions League win over Benfica.
Terry picked up the problem in last Tuesday's quarter-final first leg in Lisbon and was able to complete that game and 90 minutes of Saturday's win at Aston Villa.
However, he was forced off after an hour on Wednesday night after taking another blow to the area, something Di Matteo acknowledged would be a danger if he continued to play during his recovery period.
"With a rib injury, it needs time to heal," he said.
"Every time you get a knock, you probably go a step back."
That may explain why Di Matteo refused to put a timescale on the healing process, adding: "We're just trying to manage the injury at the moment.
"We'll just have to see how quickly he can recover.
"It's one of those injuries that are difficult to deal with because there's not much you can do.
"It's in a position where it's difficult to make it better.
"We need to just deal with the pain level and give him a bit of time to recover."
Ashley Cole is also out, while Frank Lampard is extremely doubtful for the game against the Latics.
Cole (ankle) and Lampard (thigh) picked up knocks in Wednesday night's Champions League win over Benfica.
Di Matteo was not ruling the trio out of Monday night's trip to Fulham at this juncture.
Meanwhile, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has found watching the agony of other managers helps him relax in the heat of the Latics' latest battle to beat the drop.
For the third successive season Martinez finds himself staring at relegation from the Barclays Premier League, and with the odds again heavily stacked against his team.
Two years ago Wigan finished 16th and six points above the bottom three, repeating the position in the table last season, but only after winning their last two games to keep themselves up.
On this occasion, with seven games remaining, Wigan appear to be in a four-way fight with QPR, Blackburn and Bolton to avoid the fall into the Championship, with Wolves currently cut adrift.
Although Martinez concedes to not suffering from nerves or enduring any sleepless nights right now, the Spaniard knows of only one way to ease off in the current situation.
"I watch football - I know, I'm quite sad," said Martinez.
"But I love watching football games and seeing other manager's problems on the pitch. I find it's quite relaxing.
"I feel that by looking at other team's problems it gives me a good feeling with my work."
In eating, sleeping and breathing football 24/7, for Martinez it means being nervous is not an option.
"You haven't time to feel that way," added Martinez.
"I can guarantee you that if you could work 26 hours per day then you would be able to feel them.
"But you've honestly no time because you are preparing for games and making sure the team is as ready as it can be for every game.
"You learn from experience that you can affect many things, but not when you get too emotional about your job."
Midfielder Mohammed Diame returns after a two-game absence with a groin injury, but striker Hugo Rodallega remains sidelined with a knee problem.
Source: PA
Source: PA