Chelsea rocked as Jose Bosingwa is ruled out for three months

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has been dealt a devastating injury blow after Jose Bosingwa was ruled out for up to three months.

Portugese right-back Bosingwa has undergone surgery on his left knee and has been warned that his recovery will take longer than expected.

Bosingwa, 27, has been troubled by the injury all season and saw a specialist in Lisbon last week who recommended surgery, as first revealed in Mirror Sport .

Chelsea's medical staff agreed and Bosingwa has now gone under the knife and it is believed doctors fear the ligament damage may have been worse than first thought and he could be out for three months.

It is a major blow to Chelsea, and also to Portugal ahead of their World Cup play-off with Bosnia.

Ancelotti has been using Branislav Ivanovic as cover at right-back but Bosingwa gives Chelsea more of an attacking option.

A source close to the player says he has been left down by the injury but is determined to come back quickly ahead of Chelsea's push for honours and next summer's World Cup.

Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz said: "We have spoken with Bosingwa to try to lift his spirits and it's a bad blow to be without him for the play-offs.

"But we wish him well for his recuperation for his club, and also to be available for the World Cup, where hopefully we will be next summer."

Chelsea have suffered a string of recent injury blows. Left-back Ashley Cole pulled out of the England squad with a depressed fracture in his leg and he faces a race to be fit to face Arsenal on November 29.

Didier Drogba has also pulled out of Ivory Coast's squad to face Guinea after scans revealed severe bruising to his ribs after he was kicked by Manchester United's Jonny Evans in Sunday's bruising encounter.