Sunday 10 January 2016 11:21, UK
Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao looks set to stay at Stamford Bridge for the rest of the season after Monaco ruled out the possibility of him making a swift return to the principality.
The Colombia international is on loan from the French Ligue 1 club but has struggled to make a significant impact since Jose Mourinho brought him to west London during the summer.
Falcao has not featured at all since the end of October due to a thigh injury and was back at Monaco's training ground earlier in the week to undergo checks on the problem.
Monaco believe the 29-year-old faces an extended spell on the sidelines, meaning recalling him to the Stade Louis II Stadium is not in their plans.
Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev said in an interview on the club's DailyMotion page: "Falcao is currently injured. He has six to eight weeks to go like that.
"We have decided not to take him back to Monaco for the moment."
Halfway through a season-long loan with Chelsea, the former Atletico Madrid striker has scored just one goal and also struggled for form during a similar spell at Manchester United last season.
With Diego Costa and Loic Remy ahead of him in the Chelsea pecking order, even a fit Falcao would appear unlikely to get much playing time with the Blues for the rest of the season.
His contract expires in 2018 after Monaco signed the striker from Atletico in 2013 for £52m.
He has spent just one season in Ligue 1, however, after he suffered a major knee injury midway through before embarking on a frustrating loan spell at Old Trafford.
