Chelsea will start the season without left-back Wayne Bridge after he went under the knife while on tour in the United States. The operation was performed to remove bone that was aggravating Bridge.

Bridge is not the only left-back on the Stamford Bridge treatment table, his England team-mate Ashley Cole is also on the road to recovery. Leaving Jose Mourinho with just new recruit Tal Ben Haim who recently joined the blues on a free transfer from Bolton Wanderers.