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Chelsea face Crespo wait

Chelsea FC striker Hernán Crespo's calf injury makes him a doubt for next month's tie with VfB Stuttgart.

Chelsea FC striker Hernán Crespo faces a race to be fit for their UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie with VfB Stuttgart because of a calf injury.

Limped off
The Argentinian international limped off early during Chelsea's 1-0 Premiership defeat by Liverpool FC last Wednesday despite having told manager Claudio Ranieri that he was fit to play. He has since failed to respond to treatment on the problem, ruling him out for at least a month. Chelsea face Stuttgart in Germany on 25 February, with the return on 9 March.

Further problems
Ranieri admitted that Crespo's injury added to his selection problems, with Damien Duff, Emmanuel Petit and Juan Sebastián Verón all currently injured, Verón with a back problem. The manager said: "Crespo is having treatment and he could be out for a month or six weeks. Duff and Petit will be back soon but Verón will be out a little longer. He may need an operation."