Drogba Sidelined After Knee Surgery

˝The procedure went well and he will begin his rehabilitaton as soon as possible,˝ the doctor said.

Chelsea's Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba had an operation on a troublesome knee on Saturday, the club said on their Web site.

Club doctor Brian English told www.chelseafc.com that Drogba's knee had locked in training on Friday and it was decided he needed the operation immediately.

"The procedure went well and he will begin his rehabilitaton as soon as possible," the doctor added.

Drogba had already been expected to miss Saturday's Premier League match with Sunderland after the problem curtailed his training earlier in the week.

The operation could have repercussions on the international front as Drogba is keen to play for Ivory Coast in the African Nations Cup in Ghana which runs from Jan. 20 to Feb. 10.