The surgery had originally been scheduled for the end of the season but Chelsea's medical staff have decided to bring it forward, the club said on their official Web site on Monday.

It’s a miserable end to an already disappointing campaign in the Premiership as the Ukrainian striker, 30, had been under fire for most of the season due to his mediocre form,

Fans and press had often bemoaned their $59,9 million man who was became a poor shadow of the terror he was at Milan.

Shevchenko has notched 14 goals for Chelsea but only four have come in the Premier League.