Scolari - Terry the benchmark

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Last updated: 18th October 2008

John Terry Chelsea

Terry: Always wants to play

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Luiz Felipe Scolari believes John Terry sets the benchmark for his team-mates after joking the Chelsea captain would be willing to die on the pitch.

Terry is set to overcome a back injury, which ruled him out of England's World Cup qualifying double-header, in order to face Middlesbrough on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1.

The defender's availability is a major boost for Scolari, who is set to be without a string of first-team regulars for the game at the Riverside.

Scolari is delighted with Terry's desire to play through the pain barrier and feels he sets the example for other footballers to follow.

Real captain

"For John Terry, to die on the pitch would be glory," said Scolari. "You would need to kill him. And maybe even then he'd still play!

"For a coach this is fantastic, he is the benchmark for everyone else.

"Some players yell 'ouch' and then it is all over for them, they want to come off. Not Terry.

"This is the reference for the other players. He always wants to play.

"He wants to show the others that he is a real captain.

"He came back to Chelsea on Monday or Tuesday for treatment. He trained a little bit on Thursday and then Friday.

"He did feel something, but I asked him if he wanted to play and he does. He is better."