INQUIRER Sports

LONDON - John Terry has admitted he was stunned by FIFA's decision to ban Chelsea from signing any new players until January 2011.

The Chelsea skipper, currently on England duty, said he had been taken completely by surprise by Thursday's announcement of a ban that has been imposed over the club's alleged 'tapping up' of French youngster Gael Kakuta.

"It was a big shock for me," the England defender said Friday. "I've spoken to the club about it this morning and they are appealing. Beyond that it is not something I can speak about today. There will be an appeal and it is ongoing."

England's head coach Fabio Capello did not have any concerns about the transfer ban distracting Terry, Frank Lampard or Ashley Cole, the two Chelsea players in his squad for Saturday's friendly against Slovenia and Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Croatia.

"All the players are focused on the next game -- I haven't spoken to the Chelsea players about this," the Italian said. "This is a problem for the people that deal with these things, not the players and the manager."

Terry meanwhile confirmed that he has won his battle to be fit for the Slovenia match, describing himself as "ready to go and 100 percent" after coming through a full training session on the eve of the friendly.

The centerback had been struggling with a knock he received earlier in the week but confirmed he would be fit to lead Capello's team out in a warm-up for the meeting with Croatia, in which a win will book England's place in next year's finals.

Manchester United defender Wes Brown and back-up goalkeeper Paul Robinson also played a full part in the session after recovering from their respective niggles.

Brown's team-mate Ben Foster, who is hoping to establish himself as Capello's first-choice goalkeeper, missed the session after his pregnant partner went into labor.

Foster was expected to rejoin the squad on Friday evening but West Ham's Robert Green will start his fourth consecutive international on Saturday.

David James, who was Capello's number one goalkeeper up until the end of last season, has missed out on recent squads as a result of close-season surgery and a subsequent injury which has prevented him from playing for Portsmouth.

Capello would not be drawn on his selection plans although he did confirm that he intended to use six substitutes in the match to assess his options for the Croatia game.

With Rio Ferdinand injured, the Italian must choose between Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott as a centreback partner for Terry as well as the best striking partner for Wayne Rooney.

Capello insisted he was focusing solely on beating Slovenia but Terry admitted that the Croatia clash was looming large in the minds of the England players.

Slaven Bilic's side's last visit to Wembley saw them deny England a place at the finals of Euro 2008 and Terry, who missed that defeat through injury, said the players were keen to make amends.

"It's difficult not to think about it but the manager has emphasized the game on Saturday to get the best out of Wednesday," Terry said.

"It was a disappointing night the last time they were here and that is in the back of our minds. But we don't go in with a revenge mentality."