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 he would be out for up to six weeks when he was injured on Saturday after being struck by the Fulham striker Clint Dempsey’s elbow but, aided by a custom-made protective mask which he will wear against Valencia, the 26-year-old has made clear his desire to play.

Terry’s swift return, which will also be welcomed by Steve McClaren in the run-up to England’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia, has given Chelsea great encouragement before tonight’s testing Champions League game here in Spain. 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. 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.”

Terry trained yesterday at the Mestalla and there was no indication that the plastic mask was uncomfortable. Grant even made light of the mask, suggesting it was like “Halloween”. 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. “JT is very important for us,” said Joe Cole. “He’s our captain and our leader on and off the pitch.”

Mourinho’s shadow continues to hang over Grant and will loom even larger as Chelsea return to the scene of one of their finest victories under the Portuguese manager. The triumph over Valencia six months ago, which secured a place in the Champions League semi-finals, serves as yet another reminder of the considerable task ahead as Grant attempts to stimulate a stuttering European campaign. That night here in April featured a goal from Andriy Shevchenko and Grant hinted he would keep faith with the striker, though there were suggestions last night that the Ukrainian would be dropped and a 4-3-3 formation preferred.

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” and he stressed that he was 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 credibility if Chelsea prevail this evening. Grant was present when Mourinho’s side staged an exhilarating comeback to win 2-1 in April but Chelsea’s unconvincing Premier League form this season suggests confidence is no longer at the same level.

Valencia, in contrast, 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. It was a message that Joe Cole accentuated yesterday.

“This is a match we must not lose because we only have one point on the board,” he said. “We need to be 10% better than we have been all season.” That carried an admission that Chelsea had been underperforming during Mourinho’s tenure this term, although Cole’s description of the atmosphere under Grant as “fine” hardly represented a ringing endorsement of the mood at the club since the Israeli took over 13 days ago.

Grant, who is expected to welcome back Michael Essien from injury tonight, 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,” he said. “You can have a training camp and time to prepare the team in your own style and with your own vision. Next summer I’ll have that opportunity.”

Steve McClaren is considering offering Sol Campbell a surprise return to the England squad for the Euro 2008 qualifying games against Israel and Russia next month.

Injuries and Jamie Carragher’s decision to retire from international football have reduced the head coach’s options in central defence and McClaren’s captain, John Terry, was ruled out for a month at the weekend with medial ligament damage in a knee. That leaves the Chelsea man extremely doubtful for England’s first competitive games at Wembley, neither of which McClaren can afford to lose with his team lying fourth in Group E. Tottenham’s Ledley King is recovering from knee surgery and Jonathan Woodgate has yet to feature in Middlesbrough’s pre-season.

McClaren is unlikely to be able to persuade Carragher to return to the national set-up. The pair have spoken twice since the Liverpool centre-half last month voiced his frustrations at being little more than a bit-part player for his country. They are due to meet next week for further talks and, although the head coach remains optimistic that he can instigate a rethink, Carragher is not inclined to reverse his decision, particularly as Terry may yet prove his fitness and again relegate the 29-year-old to the bench.

McClaren will thus consider shock recalls for Campbell, 32, and the 37-year-old goalkeeper David James, despite having so far ignored both of the Portsmouth players during his 12-month reign.

“You can’t close the door on anyone in this job,” said McClaren, who will watch Campbell and James, under consideration as back-up with Ben Foster currently injured, against Manchester United at Fratton Park in eight days’ time.

Two days later McClaren is due to name his squad to play Germany in a friendly at Wembley on August 22. “It would be silly and foolish of me to dismiss either Sol or David. I never said I would do it and I have no intention of doing it,” he added.

“Jamie [Carragher] is a very important player for England and a very important member of the squad. There is no way I want to lose him and I can totally understand his thought process. I am planning on resolving the matter with Jamie, but I do have to look at other options. Last season was a very good one for Sol and, with Ben Foster being injured as well, I will certainly be going to watch Portsmouth.

“I have brought players back in the past and, as long as players want to be involved with England, that is great.”

Campbell has not featured for his country since McClaren took over from Sven- Goran Eriksson after last summer’s World Cup campaign. He won his 69th and most recent cap as a replacement for the injured Rio Ferdinand in the final group game against Sweden in Germany, becoming the first England player to represent his country in six consecutive international tournaments. However, he laboured in the ragged 2-2 draw, with Henrik Larsson equalising in the final minute and the England defence deeply unconvincing.

Despite Campbell’s form improving dramatically at Portsmouth last season after a tortured final year at Arsenal - he was infamously replaced at half-time in a 3-2 home defeat by West Ham in February 2006, choosing to leave the stadium, such was his fragile state of mind - a chance to win a 70th cap comes as a surprise.

Some would consider it a retrograde step, with players such as Wes Brown and Micah Richards available, albeit often utilised at right-back. David Beckham, too, is struggling to shrug off an ankle complaint. To compound matters, Aaron Lennon is also unlikely to be available as he continues his recovery from surgery on a cartilage in a knee. The 20-year-old appeared jaded at times last season and pulled up during England B’s win against Albania in May. Spurs do not expect him to be fit until at best early September.

Possible returnees

Nick Barmby Hull, 33

18 goals in 85 games for Hull

Ugo Ehiogu Rangers, 34

‘If Sol can do it, so can I’

David James Portsmouth, 37

Awaiting another Robinson mistake

Darius Vassell Manchester City, 27

Able to operate up front or on the wing

Chris Powell Charlton, 37

Working as a coach

Danny Mills Manchester City, 30

One for the future

The Rangers captain Barry Ferguson has described his side’s 3-0 win over Lyon last night as one of the best nights of his career. Goals from Lee McCulloch, Daniel Cousin and DaMarcus Beasley made it two wins out of two in Champions League Group E for Walter Smith’s team, who now face Barcelona home and away in their next two games.

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” admitted Ferguson. “It was a great performance and a great result. When all is said and done, this is the best result I’ve had with Rangers. Lyon have been one of the favourites for the Champions League in the last few years.

“After Scotland beating France recently it seems we have a wee thing for them! But this was brilliant. Remember, we were playing a team that has won the French league for the last six seasons and is top again now.”

Beasley believes Rangers can now push on and qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament. “It was a great effort from everyone,” he explained. “We don’t have any stars, anyone who can change the game instantly but we work hard for each other. Hopefully we can go in to the next round - we’re halfway there.

“We’re not laughing yet, we’ve not done anything and we haven’t qualified. But our fans can be the 12th man against Barcelona and you never know, we might beat them - it’s a crazy game. No one gave us a chance going in to this game. Now we’re top of the group with Barcelona and if we beat them we’re almost through.”