Recovering Čech goes public

Chelsea FC goalkeeper Petr Čech is suffering from headaches but "improving" after sustaining a fractured skull in an English Premiership game at Reading FC.

Road to recovery
The Czech Republic No1 is expected to be out of action for several months after being injured in a challenge with Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt on 14 October, but he insists he is well on the road to recovery. "I am OK," said the 24-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Stade Rennais FC in the summer of 2004.

'Every day it is better'
"I feel better and I am improving. Sometimes it is difficult because you wake up and you have a horrible headache, so you have to take your medication. I just try to live with that and every day it is going to get better. When I was able to go home, the mood was better. When you are at home your family is there, your wife is there, your dog is there and you have so many visitors and so many cards that wish me a speedy recovery."

Metal plates
As part of the surgery, Čech had to have metal plates put in his skull, yet he says he remembers nothing of the incident and very little of the match at the Madejski Stadium. "I don't even remember the kick-off and I don't remember the incident," he said. "I have seen the incident on TV once and I don't want to speak about this. I am just concentrating on coming back to fitness."

Cudicini OK
Chelsea's second-choice goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was also knocked unconscious at the end of the Reading game and taken to hospital, though his condition was not serious and he may be able to return for Chelsea's trip to Sheffield United FC on Saturday. Hilário has been deputising in the absence of the injured duo.