Chelsea defender Alex is happy with his decision to undergo surgery in the summer.

Alex now wants to get as much football under his belt in order to be part of the Brazil squad that takes part in the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer.

But his season was disrupted by a nagging groin problem which first erupted on the club's pre-season tour of America.

"I started the pre-season tour in America but I was training and playing with pain always, so for me I had to ask the doctor if I could go for the operation. Now it is okay. I can do everything without pain - train, run and shoot.

"I had to make a decision to be out for three or four months so that I could do everything without pain or play on as I was before.

"Now I have to continue my improvement and train very well. I'm very happy to be playing again."