Chelsea have been dealt a major blow ahead of the new Premier League season after learning goalkeeper Petr Cech will miss the big kick off with a calf injury (Chelsea 6/4f to win the Premier League).

The Czech republic international picked up the injury in training on Tuesday and scans have now revealed he has suffered a torn calf-muscle.

Cech will miss the remainder of Chelsea’s warm-up fixtures, the Community Shield final on August 8 (Chelsea 11/10f to win) and the first few games of the Premier League campaign, including Chelsea’s opening fixture against newly-promoted West Brom.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti must now chose between Portuguese stopper Henrique Hilario and former Middlesbrough keeper Ross Turnbull for the start of the new campaign, with the Italian expected to give both his stand-in keepers the chance to impress in the Blues’ remaining friendlies.