SOCCER/Group B/Valencia v Chelsea:John Terry will complete a remarkable recovery tonight when he captains Chelsea at the Mestalla Stadium little more than 72 hours after undergoing surgery on a fractured cheekbone. There were fears that Terry might be out for up to six weeks when he suffered the injury on Saturday after he was struck by Fulham striker Clint Dempsey's elbow, but, aided by a mask, the 26-year-old has made clear his desire to play.

Terry's swift return has given Chelsea great encouragement before tonight's testing Champions League game in Valencia. With Chelsea having started their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Rosenborg that precipitated Jose Mourinho's departure, Terry's presence in central defence is important.

"He wants to play for the team and give everything he can," said Chelsea's coach, Avram Grant. "He's someone who gives a good example; not who says many things and doesn't back it up. He's injured but wanted to continue, even in the last game.

"He's brave, he's a nice guy and his commitment is incredible. It's not an easy time for us and we need John Terry."

Medical experts have suggested Terry might be risking further damage by playing but it is a measure of the defender's commitment to the club that he informed Grant he saw no reason to be sidelined. He trained yesterday at the Mestalla and there was no indication that the plastic mask was uncomfortable.

With Chelsea enduring their worst league run since 1998 - they have not scored in four Premier League games - Terry's presence has boosted his team-mates.

Of course, Mourinho's shadow continues to hang over Grant, but the former manager's presence threatens to loom larger than ever as Chelsea return to the scene of one of their finest victories under the Portuguese. Chelsea's triumph against Valencia six months ago, which secured a place in the Champions League semi-finals, serves as another reminder to Grant of the task ahead as he attempts to stimulate a stuttering European campaign.

This is Grant's first Champions League fixture since his attempt to lead Maccabi Haifa into the third qualifying round of the competition ended in embarrassment six years ago, when the Israeli side were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player against FC Haka of Finland. Grant described the error as "a misunderstanding with Uefa", with the Israeli also keen to stress he is not ill-equipped to handle games of this magnitude. "I don't think that there is something that can surprise me."

That claim will have far more credence should Chelsea prevail.

Valencia have registered five successive victories. Another Spanish win here would leave Chelsea with much work to do in their remaining four fixtures to avoid the ignominy of failing to reach the knockout stage.

Grant, who is expected to welcome back Michael Essien from injury, admitted the timing of his appointment was far from ideal.

"If you ask any coach in the world he would say he wants to take a new job at the beginning of the season," said Chelsea's coach. "You can have a training camp and time to prepare the team in your own style and with your own vision. I'm not different from any other coach. Next summer I'll have that opportunity when Chelsea go to China."

Grant, responding to a question from a Spanish reporter about Roman Abramovich's influence, claimed that the Russian "didn't give me any advice" concerning tonight's game plan.

"We know that we will play a typical away game because of the style of the stadium; the supporters are very, very close to the pitch," said Chelsea's coach. "But we have experienced players who have been in this situation not one time or two times. So we will use this experience tonight."