Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink is confident that skipper John Terry can continue to play football at the top level.

Terry's contract with the Blues expires in the summer, but he hasn't been offered a new deal by the club.

The 35-year-old, who received his second red card of the season in the 3-2 defeat against Sunderland last week, seems to have played his last game for the West London club but Hiddink is confident he can still perform at the top.

"He has been training in recent days and of course when he came on the pitch, after being sent off, it's not the most beautiful face," Hiddink said in his press conference ahead of the midweek game against Liverpool.

"But in training he started to lift his morale and trained okay. Of course not being there in the last two games is a blow for him and for us.

"It's always good to have key players on board so it's a big pity. Especially for the home crowd and for the champions Leicester who are visiting us.

"When I make a judgement on how he plays, his fitness and age, then he's able to play and continue. Where? That's up to the club. It's not for me to make declarations on that."