Chelsea turn to rookie Ross Turnbull as Hilario is crocked

Simon Johnson
15 Mar 2010

Chelsea have a goalkeeping crisis ahead of their biggest game of the season with the news that either Ross Turnbull or Rhys Taylor could face Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti today confirmed that Petr Cech is unlikely to recover from a calf injury in time, while his back-up, Hilario, is struggling with a groin problem he picked up against Stoke last week.

That has left Chelsea with just two fully fit keepers to choose from in Turnbull and Taylor, who are now set to be first and second choice respectively against West Ham tomorrow.

Turnbull has made just one start this season — the 2-2 draw against Apoel Nicosia in December — since he joined from Middlesbrough on a free transfer last summer.

The 24-year-old's only other appearance was as a substitute against Bolton in the Carling Cup, while Taylor, 19, has yet to play for the first team and does not even have a squad number.

Taylor, a Wales Under-21 international, has had loan spells at Queens Park Rangers as well as making seven appearances for the reserves this season.

It leaves Chelsea dangerously exposed if, as expected, Cech and Hilario don't recover in time for the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie, which Inter lead 2-1.

Ancelotti said: “We have a problem with the goalkeepers because we don't know if Hilario or Petr will be able to play on Tuesday. Hilario has not been able to train all week so we will have to put Taylor on the bench.

“I'm not worried because I think the performance of the team doesn't depend on the performance of the keepers. I have trust and confidence in Ross Turnbull.

“He hasn't played a lot of games this season but with the job our goalkeeping coach has done, he has improved very well. I wouldn't have a problem to play him against Milan.

“If Taylor is on the bench and Turnbull has a problem, we will have to play Taylor. He is a young player and never played in the Premier League, but he's a good keeper.

“Although he doesn't have experience, it could be a good opportunity for him to gain some.”