Demba Ba wants mask to protect his broken nose

Chelsea striker Demba Ba appears to be trying to accelerate his first-team return by looking for a way around his broken nose.

Ba suffered the injury during a collision with former team-mate Fabricio Coloccini during Chelsea's defeat to Newcastle last weekend, having to be withdrawn owing to the discomfort.

That appeared to rule him out of this weekend's game with Wigan, but the Senegal international today tweeted (above) to say he was looking to have a mask fitted.

With an accompanying picture of him on a plane, he wrote: "Me and the club docteur in the place (sic) going to milan to get a mask done."

Should Ba have a mask fitted to his face, he would not be the first.

His team-mate and captain John Terry wore one against Valencia last season owing to a broken cheekbone, while Paul Gascoigne used one to protect a facial injury while a Lazio player.