Chelsea [ Images ] will start the new season without goalkeeper Petr Cech [ Images ] after scans revealed a torn calf muscle, the Premier League champions said on Wednesday.

"Cech has torn a calf muscle in his right leg and is expected to be out for a month," Chelsea's website said. The season starts on August 14.

The 28-year-old, who sustained the injury during pre-season training on Tuesday, was also troubled with calf problems last season, missing a month during February and March after picking up an injury against Inter Milan [ Images ] in the Champions League [ Images ].

Chelsea have Ross Turnbull, who deputised for Cech in the second leg of the Champions League defeat by Inter last season, and Portuguese Hilario as back-up keepers.