More Terry torment as injury absence may threaten his grip on England's captaincy

The Chelsea captain fears he will spend up to three months on the sidelines after fracturing three bones in his right foot during the club's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.

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His injury is likely to rule the England captain out of Fabio Capello's plans for his first game in charge — a friendly against Switzerland on February 6 — and there may be long-term implications.

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Although Capello offered no guarantees to the man anointed by Steve McClaren in August 2006, the Italian does not attach the same importance to captaincy.

According to those close to Capello, he regards the captain as the man to toss the coin, exchange pennants and speak to the referee when the occasion demands.

Asked about the issue, Capello said: 'I have just arrived and there are many things I have to think about. I have a month to think about it and then I will tell you.'

It was hardly the seal of approval from the new manager, but Capello is unlikely to make an immediate change. Most of the England squad under McClaren favoured passing Beckham the armband for his 100th cap, but Capello may have different ideas.

Capello is a known admirer of Terry and he is among the 'three personalities' that his coaching staff have identified in the England team.

Steven Gerrard, vice-captain under Steve McClaren' s disastrous regime, and Wayne Rooney make up the trio of players that Capello hopes to build a team around. For Capello, the wider issue is Terry's replacement. Despite misgivings over Rio Ferdinand's ability to concentrate for 90 minutes, his recent form for Manchester United has been of the highest order.

Capello admires Jamie Carragher, who was so exasperated with McClaren that he quit international football, and he will sound out the Liverpool defender over a return.

It is understood that Capello became aware of Carragher's qualities during Liverpool's titanic struggle with Juventus in the Champions League quarter-final three seasons ago.

Carragher was outstanding in both matches and Capello was impressed with his defending in the 0-0 draw at the Stadio delle Alpi. Although Carragher recently insisted that he does not want to return to the England set-up, it is understood the Liverpool centre-half has huge respect for Capello.

That relationship could convince Carragher to declare himself available for selection and it is an avenue Capello will explore when he officially begins work on January 7.

Despite Chelsea's claims that Terry could be back in action within six weeks, he is unlikely to be fit for England's first friendly under Capello.

Chelsea mis-diagnosed the injury and claimed that their captain had twisted ankle ligaments following Emmanuel Eboue's crude challenge at the Emirates Stadium.

A scan at their Cobham training ground on Monday revealed that he had actually fractured three bones in his right foot, including his third metatarsal.

Chelsea's club doctor Bryan English said: 'An x-ray taken in the Arsenal medical room straight after John left the field did not show the injury. However, as is usual with mid-foot injuries, the fractures were revealed following scans.'

Terry's central defensive partner Ricardo Carvalho is still out with a back injury. Chelsea are also without Didier Drogba, sidelined with a knee injury, and he may miss six weeks of the season when he represents the Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations next month.