Canoville, who made over 100 appearances for the Blues in the 1980s, became critically ill earlier in the year after complications set in following emergency surgery. In an interview with talkSPORT Radio he revealed he was in an induced coma for six weeks after a heart procedure but is on the road to recovery.‘This is a slow process, it’s not one of those operations I’ve had in the past where I’ve recovered quickly,’ he said.‘This was a close one. I’m just realising it. The doctors who were doing the surgery kept telling me they didn’t think I would come through.‘It was a blocked valve. I had this pain and I knew it was familiar. I tried to sleep it off and take some paracetamol, but no, I had to go straight in. I had a CT scan and right away, they said they were going to operate. Before I knew it, that was it. Down in the anaesthetic room, three operations.’Canoville appreciates those who let him know they were thinking about him. One of the get-well cards was sent in by players in the Chelsea Academy.

‘I’d like to thank everyone on Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and everyone who sent those get-well messages to me. It meant a lot,’ he said.‘The cards I received in hospital and especially I want to thank the ICU, all those doctors who were involved, I really thank you.‘The Shed End boys who put that banner up for the Chelsea game, it was unbelievable and so appreciated.’Canoville played a major role in the Chelsea story when he overcame vociferous racial prejudice as the first black player in the men’s first team, staying strong to become an important part of a team that restored Chelsea as a competitive force in the top division.

In more recent times, when fans are at Stamford Bridge, he works at Chelsea on matchdays and he is involved in projects helping young people both with his own foundation and with the Chelsea Foundation.