Chelsea captain John Terry is helping rugby star Danny Cipriani battle back from the awful ankle injury that will keep him out of action until November.

The England defender had to deal with his own serious injury problems last season and contacted Cipriani, the London Wasps and England No10, after he dislocated and broke his ankle.

Cipriani believes this kind of support from other top sports stars has helped him deal with the pain and mental anguish of the setback which forced him to miss his club's Premiership Final victory over Leicester and England's summer tour to New Zealand.

He will miss the four autumn Tests but is confident of being back for next year's Six Nations Championship.

Cipriani, who today lit the flame to open the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games at Crystal Palace, said: "John Terry has been in touch with me to make sure I am all right.

"It's great to have those kind of sportsmen taking the time to call. You feel that people are on your side who have also been through serious injuries.

"That's also the case with Lawrence [Dallaglio], who was visiting me in hospital the day after my operation.

"He had the same injury on the Lions tour and knows what it is like to go through this. Guys like John and Lol keep you focused on what is needed to get back to full fitness."

Cipriani, 20, also spoke to Ieuan Evans, the former Wales wing who returned from a similar ankle injury. "Ieuan told me he came back even faster for Wales," said Cipriani.

"I will be working with Margot Wells. She will be scheduling my training and I am sure there will be times when she will be working me so hard that I don't want her to come anywhere near me because I'll be so angry.

"But I am determined to be back playing by mid-November or early December and I expect to be walking without the crutches and the boot in less than two weeks."

The recent disciplinary problems that hit the England tour to New Zealand and led to the instigation for a new code of conduct, has painted the new young stars as being out of control.

Cipriani was banned for one game by England last season for visiting a nightclub but he insists there isn't a disciplinary problem with the squad.

He said: "I made a mistake and while I wasn't drinking it was perceived to be the wrong behaviour for an England player.

"The coach, Brian Ashton, taught me a lesson. I'm sure it is not just a thing about young players and it is being responsible as a team and ensuring your conduct is correct with England.

"It's good to have a code of conduct and I am sure that team manager, Martin Johnson, will bring his World Cup-winning attitude and experience to the England squad. Hopefully, we will get that winning mentality."