Taylor will miss a month after undergong surgery

The 27-year-old Taylor, who signed a new three-year contract in April, has a stomach muscle tear and will undergo surgery early next week.

Blues boss Steve Bruce said: "He goes into hospital on Monday for surgery, and will be out for at least a month.

"He's been feeling this problem for the past week and we felt it was better to get it sorted out straight away."

Bruce's disappointment at losing Taylor has been off-set by the signing on loan until at least January of Arsenal defender Johan Djourou.

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He will go straight into the Blues starting line-up for Sunday's league opener at Chelsea.