Yossi Benayoun will travel to Finland on Sunday and undergo surgery on his ruptured achilles tendon the following day.

The Chelsea midfielder consulted a leading Swedish specialist in London this week who confirmed the diagnosis of Israel national team Dr. Mark Rosnovsky and an MRI scan at Assouta Hospital in Tel Aviv that Benayoun had a badly torn achilles tendon.

Benayoun said: “The truth is that this entire situation is very strange. I had three MRIs and three ultrasounds and they all said that there was no problem, and it was just a small tear. I came to Israel ready to play and they told me it was a big tear.

“Chelsea were sure it was something small. They have compared all the images and they do not understand how they missed it. They said it is unusual to have such a big tear and not be in terrible pain. Even now I am not in pain but I cannot take one step by myself until I undergo surgery."

The average recovery time for such an injury is six months, but David Beckham, who suffered a similar rupture in March, was back playing after four and a half months.

Benayoun said: “I hope Chelsea have a successful season so I can come back and help win trophies in the final weeks.”