Wednesday 26 April 2017 14:37, UK
Chelsea's Gary Cahill feared he would need a season-ending operation to remove his gallbladder when he spent time in hospital last week.
Cahill missed last Saturday's FA Cup semi-final win over Tottenham but returned to score Chelsea's second in Tuesday night's 4-2 win over Southampton as the Blues moved within 12 points of the Premier League title.
It was a seventh goal of the season for Cahill, who has been Chelsea's on-field captain for much of the campaign and an integral figure in the Blues' bid for the double in Antonio Conte's first season as head coach.
The 31-year-old has managed a condition with his gallbladder throughout his career and spent two days in hospital last week.
A normal life can be led without a gallbladder, but surgery to remove it and the associated recovery time would have prohibited Cahill from playing for the rest of this season.
Chelsea had attributed his absence to gastroenteritis, which is related to Cahill's gallbladder issue.
Cahill said in the London Evening Standard: "It was causing me a lot of pain and that's why we went to hospital to check it all out. They kept me in to keep an eye on everything.
"It's something I've had since I was small. I have been aware of it and it is just a matter of keeping an eye on it.
"The worst thing at the time last week was if they had to take it out and that would have set me back for the season. I was happy that wasn't the case.
"There have been times when I know it's going to come on and I'd take some strong painkillers for it.
"Thankfully I got rid of the pain and recovered but it was just too late (for the Tottenham game)."
