LONDON: Carlo Ancelotti faces a nervous wait to discover how long he will be without Michael Essien after the Ghana midfielder limped off with a hamstring injury during Chelsea's 2-2 draw against APOEL Nicosia.

Blues boss Ancelotti was already frustrated after watching his side fail to win for the third successive match thanks to a sloppy display capped by John Obi Mikel's costly mistake.

And the prospect of being without Essien, one of the few Chelsea stars to emerge with any credit from Tuesday's Champions League draw with the Cypriot champions, ensured he left Stamford Bridge in a foul mood.