Chelsea captain John Terry has revealed he hasn't played fully fit for five years.
Terry is currently sidelined with a nerve problem in his right leg.
"The last time I played fit?" he answered the Daily Mail. "Maybe five years, maybe more, 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 have 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 City, but no. I'm 30 next month and I've got to start looking after myself.
"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 mate, that's probably not your best plan'.
"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 my 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 rethink the wheel-chair idea, please."
