Niall Quinn has claimed that John Terry's career could be on the line after being taken off at half time by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho yesterday.

The Blues skipper was replaced by Kurt Zouma just 45 minutes into their 3-0 defeat by Manchester City, and Quinn thinks that the 35-year-old faces an uncertain future.

He told Sky Sports News: "I think it could be the start of the end for John Terry. I think he's got a hell of a battle on now to get back in the team. To be taken off at half time in a big game, he would be gutted. He'll be thinking long and hard tonight about what it means for him.

"I think the manager made too much of a point about how right he was over the substitution. That's telling. Terry looked a broken man when the cameras went to him in the second half. He must have been feeling the pressure and this doesn't come out of the blue.

"He effectively got the blame for the first-half performance and the manager justified it afterwards by praising Kurt Zouma. I don't think it bodes well for John Terry. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am."

Chelsea take on West Bromwich Albion next weekend.