JOHN TERRY has been given a specific exercise programme devised by Chelsea's medical staff to alleviate the back problems which ruled the England captain out of the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus. Luiz Felipe Scolari is confident the defender will not require surgery to cure an injury that has hampered him too often in recent seasons.

The 27-year-old suffered pain in his lower back during the goalless draw with CFR Cluj in the Champions League earlier this month and required an injection to play in the following Premier League fixture against Aston Villa. However, he was still suffering discomfort after linking up with the national squad for the double-header of competitive fixtures and, having been unable to play any prolonged part in training, was released back to his club last Monday to undergo intensive treatment on the problem.

He had recovered sufficiently to feature in Saturday lunchtime's league game at Middlesbrough, with Terry - who had an operation on his back in December 2006 - expected to line up again this evening against Roma at Stamford Bridge. "He did not play with the national team because he was suffering from an injury at that time and, after one or two days, it was not possible for him to play," said Scolari.

"But, after three days with our medical staff last week, it's normal that a small problem like this in the back would have cleared up. From now on, he'll have a specific exercise (routine) for this problem. I'm not a doctor, but I don't think he'll need surgery.

"For Chelsea, I think John has played every game this season. The only games he missed were the two games in the national team. And, to have played 11 games for Chelsea and three for the national team by now, from August to October, is regular for him. To miss only two games out of 16 so far is normal. He's a good captain and sometimes he plays with pain. That is what I want from a captain. I'm one of John's biggest fans."

While Fabio Capello accepted Terry's condition and, knowing the player, will have expected him to have featured at the Riverside, some national coaches - Scolari's successor with Portugal, Carlos Queiroz, among them - had expressed surprise that Chelsea players apparently too injured to play for their countries in midweek had turned out for their club last weekend.

"Some of the national coaches are crazy and perhaps they do not understand," added Scolari. "If a player has an injury on Monday, he can have treatment at his club and be fit to play the following weekend."

Deco, whose absence from a struggling Portugal side was much bemoaned, may return tonight to make his first start since the opening Champions League tie against Bordeaux. Petr Cech, recovered from a thigh injury, should return in goal and Ricardo Carvalho's rehabilitation from a knee injury has gathered such pace as to see the Portuguese included in tonight's squad. Didier Drogba is still out, however with a knee injury.

Scolari is aware victory would effectively leave Chelsea requiring one win from their final three group games to secure progress into the second phase.

The visitors appear there for the taking. Languishing in 14th place in Serie A, with seven points gleaned from as many games, they are a club in turmoil. Their manager, Luciano Spalletti, was a contender to succeed Avram Grant at Stamford Bridge in the summer, but deadbatted talk of what might have been last night. "I'm not the kind of manager who goes around hoping for things," he said. "I'm more realistic and I never received any concrete offer from any club. Chelsea are managed by one of the best coaches in the world. This is a very hard game for us."

Scolari has promised the club's fans more "beautiful" football tonight. "I enjoy watching my team but I am more happy when we win," said Scolari.

"It's a pleasure, not only for me, but for the players that people like Chelsea football.

"We play beautiful football. But if we need three points in every game, sometimes it is impossible to play beautiful football.

"You will see a beautiful game against Roma because they play like Chelsea."

It is an important week for Scolari as, following the Roma clash, Chelsea face Liverpool at home on Sunday afternoon. Liverpool are the only other unbeaten team in the Premier League but Scolari admits he cannot afford to think too far ahead and has instructed his players to follow suit.

"We are thinking only of Roma tomorrow night," said Scolari. "It is more important for the players to think about this game."