Avram Grant, the Chelsea coach, appears to have ruled John Terry out of the Carling Cup final even though the England international is back in training.

The Chelsea captain insists he will be back to full fitness from his fractured foot in the next fortnight and has identified the showdown with Tottenham Hotspur on February 24 as his target.

But Grant, who watched his side stutter to a goalless draw with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge yesterday, thinks the game will arrive too soon for his inspirational leader. "It is very good news about John Terry," Grant said. "He has trained sooner than we thought.

"He trained Friday and Saturday and everybody was happy to see him. He is the leader we need. He will be fit in around three weeks. I think it will be too soon [for the Carling Cup final] but we will see. He wants to do everything to be as fit as soon as possible."