London - Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

The England man ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments in his knee during Chelsea's FA Cup win at Southend in midweek.

"I am very sad for Joe to have suffered this injury and I am disappointed to have lost a very important player," Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said.

"However, I believe that with his spirit, Joe will come back to Chelsea even better than before." dpa