Football: Čech undergoes facial surgery after training ground accident

Chelsea and Czech national goalkeeper Petr Čech underwent facial surgery on Sunday following a training ground accident which left him with cuts to his lip and chin, a spokesperson for the Blues said Monday. On its website, Chelsea FC wrote that it ‘hoped to have Petr back playing as soon as possible’. The Czech Republic international has not played since March 1 because of an ankle injury, with Italian Carlo Cudicini standing in. Last season, Čech was out of action for three months after suffering a fractured skull from a collision with Reading’s Stephen Hunt. He now wears a rugby-style protective skull cap whenever he plays.