Gary Neville has insisted that John Terry's Chelsea career is not yet over despite criticism over his form at the start of the new season.
Terry was substituted at half time of their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, and boss Jose Mourinho admitted that the decision was tactical.
Former Sunderland striker Niall Quinn believes that this is the beginning of the end for Terry, but Neville insists that he still has plenty to offer.
He told Sky Sports News: "John Terry is 34, and this is going to happen. He'll wake up this morning and the world's ending, his career's over – but I saw Jamie Carragher sit on the bench for Liverpool for 18 months, I've seen the same with myself when I was substituted three times within 55 minutes in my last year at United.
"I saw it with Steve Bruce at the end of his career at United, when I was playing alongside him, or with Tony Adams for England, or with Laurent Blanc. It happens. There will be certain games where, as a 34-year-old centre-back, other players will need to start to be phased in.
"My genuine belief is that it's not the end of the world for John Terry. It was a big shock to him yesterday, and it's almost like a public embarrassment – we've been there. But I don't buy into the fact that his career's over."
It was the first time Terry had ever been substituted by Mourinho in the Premier League.
Charlie Bennett
