Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has declared that John Terry can extend his career at Stamford Bridge into 2014-15 if he maintains his early-season form.
Terry has featured regularly under Mourinho this season to help make his peripheral role under Rafael Benitez a distant memory, scoring in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Mourinho has given Terry his full backing to go on beyond the length of his current contract, which expires at the end of the campaign.
He told Sky Sports News: "I think he always has a future the way he is playing, he has a future here, in China, or wherever he wants to have a future.
"I have always told him from day one, don't speak about signing a new contract, just speak about working very hard from a physical point of view so you don't have the same kind of problems you have had in the past two years and then you play regularly.
"He is a very good player and very good players have no problems with their contracts. I think the fact that he knows that I like him has been important. I trust the player. This is important."
The 32-year-old faces a fight to hold down a regular starting spot at Chelsea despite his strong relationship with Mourinho, as David Luiz and Gary Cahill provide stern competition in central defence.
