JOE NO ... Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole feels the pain at Southend in midweek
JOE COLE has handed Chelsea another blow after being ruled out for the season.
The Blues midfielder ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the midweek FA Cup win over Southend.
Cole had a successful operation this morning. But his injury is bad news for boss Phil Scolari, who is struggling to keep his dressing room.
Scolari said: “I am very sad for Joe to have suffered this injury and I am disappointed to have lost a very important player for me and the club at such a vital moment of the competition.
“However, I believe that with his spirit, Joe will come back to Chelsea even better than before.”
Cole will also miss England’s friendlies against Spain and Slovakia along with their World Cup qualifier with Ukraine at Wembley in April.
Things got worse for Scolari when skipper John Terry had to pull out of today's match against Stoke after injuring himself in the warm-up.