Chelsea caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo has hailed the return from injury ahead of schedule of captain John Terry.
Di Matteo delighted to have skipper back for season run-in
Chelsea caretaker boss Roberto Di Matteo has hailed the return from injury ahead of schedule of captain John Terry.
Terry was on the bench for the Blues' 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round replay win over Birmingham - just two weeks after undergoing knee surgery.
And Di Matteo is hopeful the skipper can help Chelsea reignite their season following the dismissal of Andre Villas-Boas.
"John has done very well and is determined to help the club, and we're pleased to see him. He's available," he said.
"We have to take him with small steps because he's done well to come back in just over two weeks. But it was good to see him."
Di Matteo left Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Daniel Sturridge out of the starting line-up for the win at Birmingham.
But he insists all the players were "on board" with his thinking and dedicated the St Andrews win to their former boss.
Difficult task
Di Matteo said: "My thoughts go to Andre, to our manager. We faced a difficult task given all the events of the last couple of days.
"But the attitude was right, the commitment was right, the passion was there, the result was right."
After the match Di Matteo sidestepped questions over whether he would be interested in taking the role on a permanent basis - if offered the chance.
He said: "Would I take it? I'm very tired tonight. I have to think about Stoke City from an hour's time onwards, and that's all I'm thinking about.
"Think whatever you want to think. I'm not thinking about anything else."
