Desailly urges Chelsea legend Terry to leave

London - Former Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly has called on John Terry to leave the Blues in order to find first team opportunities after the 36-year-old lost his place in Antonio Conte's side.

Chelsea's long-standing captain has struggled for game time so far this season, making just five Premier League appearances as the Blues made their way to the top of the standings.

Speaking to Sportsmail, Ghanaian-born defender Dessailly - who was a key member of France's dominant team of the late 1990s/early 2000s - likened Terry's situation to his own when he left Chelsea for Qatari club Al-Gharafa in 2004.

"I left because they were faster than me, better than me and it was my time to go - their time to shine - and now it is his time," Desailly told Sportsmail.

"It is great to see that he has been able to handle it. You are the captain, you have been put to the side a bit because other players are more suited for the tactics required, but you are still there present, you are still there focused.

"You remind one of the players when he is not training well 'Oh, what are you doing?' so these are the small important details that John is going over. I am happy because it is a different phase for John, leader as a first choice but also leader as a second choice. He is there to boost and to be present in the group so it is a different approach of John.

"He is good because he gives a lot of pressure to the first choice that Conte has selected, Kurt Zouma or Gary Cahill. When you have John Terry on the bench I can tell you that when you come on the pitch and you want to perform because you know that he can change you out of the team at any time."

Terry's current contract with Chelsea expires at the end of the season and the former England captain has been linked with moves to the MLS and the Chinese Super League.

The Blues travel to Turf Moor on Sunday to face Burnley in a English Premiership clash with Terry likely to remain on the sidelines after Conte's men continue their formidable march to the league title.

Kick off is at 15:30.