Thiago Silva posts recovery picture with wife as Chelsea star continues knee injury rehab

The Brazilian was injured in a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham in February, suffering knee ligament damage with no timeframe given on his return.

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But the Chelsea defender has given fans an update on his progress from home as he posted to his Instagram story.

Sporting a contraption from Finnish physiotherapy company Cryotech Nordic, Silva was laid out with the machine wrapped around his afflicted left knee.

In the background of the shot was his wife, Belle, which led to the caption of the post reading: "Minha fisioterapeuta [my physiotherapist]."

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At the age of 38, injuries of such a nature could have a detrimental effect on the rest of his playing career.

But the former Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan star has kept himself in remarkable shape throughout his playing days and especially in his late 30s.

Since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2020, Silva has played 109 times and been a crucial part of the starting XI, especially during their Champions League-winning run in 2021 where he made 48 appearances in all competitions that season.

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This season, he has played 27 times before injury crocked him but his comeback is highly anticipated by Chelsea fans ahead of some crucial upcoming fixtures.

It had been estimated that the defender could return by the middle of April - exactly when the Blues face Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Chelsea coach Graham Potter will be hoping that Silva can beat the clock and be fully fit before his side faces the European giants as he will need all the experience he can get.

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Potter could potentially lose another defender in the form of Wesley Fofana, who pulled out of international duty this week with France with a hamstring injury.

While the severity of the centre-back's injury is not known, it is the last thing Potter would have wanted to hear after a season ravaged by selection issues.

Fofana, who was signed for £69.5million in the summer from Leicester, had only just recently recovered from a knee injury that ruled him out for over four months earlier in the season.

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Since returning, the Frenchman had made five appearances for Chelsea in the Premier League and Champions League.

With Benoit Badiashile not registered in the European squad, Potter could find himself threadbare at the back when they take on Real Madrid next month should Fofana's injury prove significant and Silva not return in time.

Kalidou Koulibaly has improved in form in recent weeks but has had a tough debut season since arriving from Napoli while Marc Cucurella and Trevoh Chalobah have found themselves in and out of the side.