Cech checks out of hospital

Petr Cech left hospital and returned home on Tuesday, 10 days after fracturing his skull in a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt.

Goalkeeper Cech needed emergency surgery to insert two metal plates in his head after the clash in the first minute of Chelsea's game at the Madejski Stadium. He is expected to be back at Chelsea's training ground in Surrey next week to begin the lengthy process of rehabilitation.

A Chelsea statement, released on the club website www.chelseafc.com, said: "Chelsea FC is happy to announce that Petr Cech has returned home from hospital. He continues to make excellent progress from his injury and will continue his rehabilitation and return to light training at the Chelsea training ground next week."

The Czech international goalkeeper, 24, has been told it will be three months before he can expect to train normally.

The statement continued: "It is standard medical practice to allow three months for a fracture of the skull to repair fully and that is the time-scale we are all working to for a return to full training.

"It would be greatly appreciated if the media continue to respect the privacy of Petr and his wife."