Chelsea captain John Terry undergoes PRP treatment in effort to return from Achilles injury

Chelsea skipper John Terry is leaving no stone unturned in his effort to ensure his career at Stamford Bridge does not end prematurely, revealing he is undergoing a complex medical program to ensure he plays again this season. The soon-to-be out-of-contract former England international has not played since the draw with West Ham United in March due to an Achilles tendon problem, and with only a month of the campaign remaining he is running out of time to impress sufficiently and win a new deal.

Terry, who will turn 36 next season, is yet to be offered an extension by the Blues hierarchy and a decision over his future could be left to incoming new manager Antonio Conte, who has already met with several players and is in contact with interim boss Guus Hiddink ahead of the official start of his tenure following the summer's European Championships. Nevertheless, with just six Premier League games remaining Terry faces a race against time to ensure his career in West London – should it indeed end after 21 years this summer – does not end on the treatment table.

In a post on his Instagram account, Terry revealed he is undergoing platelet-rich plasma [PRP] therapy in his attempts to play for Chelsea again before the end of the season on 12 May. The procedure involves blood being extracted, allowed to separate into platelets and then reinjected into the injured area – in this case Terry's Achilles.

The four-time Premier League winner confirmed he was undergoing the treatment via a post on his Instagram account, adding: "Being injured is the most frustrating thing as a player. Working hard to get back fit." Chelsea face Manchester City this weekend, and though the clash is likely to come too soon for Terry, he is eyeing a return to the pitch sooner rather than later.

Hiddink was without a host of first team players as he suffered his first Premier League defeat of his second spell as Chelsea manager against Swansea City. Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic, Willian, Gary Cahill, Kurt Zouma and Thibaut Courtois were all absent due to suspension, injury or selection issues, meaning Terry's return can't come soon enough to ensure the club can salvage a top half finish from an otherwise dismal campaign.