Cech facing month out as Blues back Cudicini

Petr Cech fears he will be missing for up to a month after tearing a calf muscle during Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Schalke 04 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Cech, 25, was forced off at half-time at the AufSchalke Arena in Gelsenkirchen and scans at Chelsea's training ground yesterday revealed a small tear in his right calf.

The injury means the Chelsea keeper will miss Sunday's Premier League clash against Everton and he will also be withdrawn from the Czech Republic's squad for next week's Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Cech, who has played 43 times for his country, was expected to join up with his national team-mates for games against Slovakia and Cyprus in Group D next week, but the Czechs have already secured qualification for next summer's finals and will give him permission to stand down.

Chelsea team doctor Bryan English said: 'It's still early but it's almost certain he will miss the game this weekend.

'We will also be liaising with the Czech FA's medical department about Petr's injury. Hopefully the international break will allow time for the injury to improve.'

Cech suffered the injury in the opening 10 minutes of their clash against Schalke, but Chelsea did not make a change until the interval.

He left the stadium on crutches and was assessed by Chelsea's medical department yesterday.

Cech said: 'I don't know exactly how it happened. I only know that I felt a pain from the 10th minute of the match but nevertheless I played the first half.

'I feel bad that I will be out when I and the team are doing well.'

Cech, who is in his fourth season at Stamford Bridge after his £7million move from French league club Rennes, was replaced by Carlo Cudicini in the second half and the Italian will be in goal against Everton.

Cudicini, 34, made a number of important saves as Chelsea somehow escaped Germany with a 0-0 draw after a dreadful performance, but it was only his third appearance of the season for the club which he joined in 1999.

He has played in both Carling Cup ties this season, but he will be thrust back into the Premier League spotlight on Sunday.

Although he has been second choice at the club since Cech's arrival, coach Avram Grant has already claimed that Chelsea have the best two goalkeepers in the top flight.

While that remains debatable, Cudicini certainly has the backing of his team-mates.

Frank Lampard, who was acting skipper on Tuesday, said: 'He is basically a first-team keeper. He has always been a professional and that's why he comes on and performs.

'For me, he's one of the best keepers in the Premier League.

'It's very impressive. Whenever Carlo comes in, even though he hasn't played for a long time, he always looks as sharp as anyone.'