London: Chelsea midfielder Ramires is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a medial knee ligament injury after being forced off in his side's 1-0 FA Cup fourth-round win over QPR, manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed.
The Blues' boss spoke to reporters after the game and suggested that the Brazilian midfielder could be facing a minimum of four weeks out after the tie at Loftus Road on Saturday.
"It looks like a medial knee ligament injury," Villas-Boas confirmed. "It is not so bad in terms of the worst knee injuries but he'll have the MRI scan and we'll know the full extent, and I think hopefully he is going to avoid an operation."
Villas-Boas confirmed his midfielder would definitely miss the club's trip to Swansea on Tuesday.
"Ramires? I don't think he will play," he said. We have to know the extent of the ligament injury and eventually with the treatment and results we have been having medically, we could be looking at a four-week period. We have to look at the extent of the injury. Maybe more than that, but hopefully not."
Ramires sustained the injury in the final stages of Chelsea's win when the ball hit the midfielder's leg, and he had to be carried off on a stretcher after lengthy treatment by club medical staff.
If he is out for a month, Ramires will miss the league games against Swansea, Manchester United, Everton and Bolton Wanderers, as well as probably the first leg of the Champions League last-16 encounter with Napoli.
Despite the injury setback, Villas-Boas reflected positively on the performance of his side in the match.
"We looked dominant for the whole game but maybe first half a bit one-paced, slow in possession, still creating danger, but maybe less incisiveness than in the second half," he said.
"In the second half we did a bit better and improved as a team and because of the amount of attack, we eventually got the penalty situation, which repaid us with a 1-0 win. So I think it was a good solid display. QPR are always difficult on the counter, creating problems mainly from our mistakes."
"After the goal, they were much more direct and objective but we held on to a good 1-0 and go through."
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