Cole out for three months

Defender a World Cup doubt following Donovan challenge

Last updated: 12th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

We are very disappointed because Ashley is a very important player for us.

Carlo Ancelotti
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Chelsea have announced that Ashley Cole will be unavailable for approximately three months after fracturing his left ankle on Wednesday.

The left-back sustained the injury in the Blues' 2-1 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park in a challenge with Landon Donovan.

Cole will now be in a race against time to be fit for Premier League title-chasing Chelsea's last game of the season against Wigan on 9th May.

The 29-year-old will also be a major concern for England manager Fabio Capello as he makes plans for the World Cup finals, which begin in June.

England's first game in the finals is against a USA side which is expected to feature Donovan.

Before that game the Three Lions play Egypt in a friendly on 3rd March at Wembley and Wayne Bridge will be a favourite to replace Cole.

Uncertain

That could see the Manchester City player re-united with John Terry for the first time since the recent off-field revelations about the former England captain's private life.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti told Sky Sports News: "We are very disappointed because Ashley is a very important player for us.

"Now we have to do our best to help him recover quickly."

Ancelotti is uncertain as to whether Cole will be fit for the World Cup, but he is optimistic.

He said when asked about the former Arsenal player's chances of making the finals: "I don't know. I think so. I hope for him and for the England team."

Russia international Yuri Zhirkov will be Cole's likely replacement at club level for the remainder of the season and Ancelotti is confident the 26-year-old is up to the task.

The Italian said: "Yuri Zhirkov is a fantastic full-back so we can use him in this moment."

Comments (80)

Danny Wheadon (Everton fan) says...

Paul Rotheram hit the nail on the head - if Baines was at a 'superstar' club (Man U, City, a London club etc) and on 100k+ a week he would be a dead cert!! Bridge being mooted is just for the likes of Heat magazine to get a few pages on the goss, everyone who knows English footy knows Baines & Warnock are the obvious options. I have more faith in Fabio than Sven though, he is a football man and has no time for fashion or celebrity status. I think Baines and Warnock are two fantastic defenders, but in this day and age you need full backs who can attack as well as defend, thats 21st century football!! So for this reason I think Baines gets the shout! If not though, it has to be Warnock...but no way should it be Bridge! Not if we want to mount a serious challenge for the cup for once. Would you really fancy England winning if Bridge came up against, for example, Lionel Messi!?!?!

Posted 20:01 12th February 2010

Richard Sheerin says...

Cole will be a massive blow to us i think he is the best left back in europe.

Posted 19:13 12th February 2010

John berry (Birmingham City fan) says...

Forget bridge, warnock and baines - and even cole for that matter its all about liam ridgewell how he hasnt made it yet is a shock to me! come on capello see what your missing underneath your nose!!

Posted 18:09 12th February 2010

Rob Yeadon says...

Big loss for England & unlike Sven, Capello will not pick him in the squad if he is not fit & playing. Replacement - really Bridge, Warnock or Baines the others will be in the England Team in their respective positions. One name to throw in the mix who has England Caps and if he keeps playing at Fulham regualrly is Nicky Shorey? Lost his way a tad at Villa but was excellent at Forest and of course at Reading in previous seasons.

Posted 16:05 12th February 2010

David Elder (Aston Villa fan) says...

Warnock is the only real contender for this position

Posted 13:40 12th February 2010

Jay F says...

In Defence of Ian David (and i'm a City Fan) i think he's talking about English left-backs and entitled to his opinion so Michael Owusu-addo in the absence of even a mention of Evra's name i think it's you who is a complete uneducated idiot. Learn to think before you write and try posting something interesting and constructive.... On the Left back issue, Bridge has been behind Cole at Chelsea (rightly so) been through personal issues not through any fault of his own and been injured. Give him the rest of the season and then judge him. I think he'll be a quality replacement if called on and will put his country before his personal feelings.

Posted 13:23 12th February 2010

Mark Stolworthy says...

Please no Kieran Gibbs.... Anyone remember how he faired against Manchester United last season. Definately not world class or champions league level. He's not ready yet. Milner can do a job for England at left back. Evra has proven to be, one of, if not the best left back in the world in my opinion. Bridges for me is not good enough for england. He has always looked shakey. Baines could be an interesting choice due to his ability to get forward. Hmmm

Posted 12:38 12th February 2010

Kieran Rowcliffe says...

Stephen Warnock is by far the best left back in the country! It would be a disgrace if he wasnt first choice replacement for cole. He should be first choice before Cole anyway in my mind. Forget Baines and Gibbs, Warnock is better than both of them together.

Posted 12:34 12th February 2010

Lee Tyler says...

Ashley Cole's injury is a huge blow to England, no doubting that. Baines and Warnock have been on much better form than Bridge this season, and haven't had the injury problems Bridge has had. Regardless of the Terry situation, I would pick Baines over Bridge. I just haven't seen anything from Bridge over the last two years to convince me he is back to his best, and wouldn't trust him at the back. On another note, Cole and Evra are possibly the best 2 left backs in the world, and sadly no other England left back comes close to them. For me, Evra is the best in the world, purely because he is better defending, but Cole has been running him close. Evra is miles better than Baines, but Baines is still our best bet at the moment should Cole not be fit for the World Cup.

Posted 12:12 12th February 2010

Michael Owusu-addo says...

In refrence to Ian David's comment that Baines is better than Patrice Evra,I would just like to say with extreme confidence that the whole of the red half of manchester and around the world behind me that Ian infact is an absolute idiot. To even think this is a sign of a fool and to consider and say it out loud in public just shows that you're uneducated when it comes to football. I just you consider why Evra plays for united and Baine plays for everton.Evra has consitantly been a top class performer since he's been at united that is why he is constantly in fifa's end of season team.Perhaps what you need to do is watch him play more and listen to skysports news more.Oh and by the way skysports news is on channel 405 on sky you fool.

Posted 11:58 12th February 2010

John Lift says...

Joe Dudgeon at Manchester United !!! He is an out and out left back and if it wasnt for Evra he would start... I rate him above the twins also. If walcott can get an opportunity at the last world cup then this lad is definatley worth taking , for cover at least !!! Hes brave good with the ball, can defend and good at getting forward and making over lapping runs !!!

Posted 11:49 12th February 2010

Phil Sears (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

My mate Jeff said weeks ago that Leighton Baines would go to the world cup as Englands first choice lef t back, and Jeff is a Liverpool Fan. Baines has been amazing this year, great defensively, adds real width and great deadball delivery. it is such a shame Ashley has injured himself, i really wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully he will be back sooner than expected as Chelsea will miss him, England will miss him, Football in general will miss a very talented full back. Chin up Ashley!!!

Posted 11:47 12th February 2010

Kevin Mundy says...

It is a massive loss for England as Cole (a player made at Arsenal by Wenger I would like to remind all those Chelsea fans) is one of the best players in the squad. He may have his critics regarding the money minded side of football but on the pitch he is quality. Talk of Bridge worries me as he just aint good enough and his previous performances have shown this. I think if Cole is not fit we have to take Leighton Baines and if Gibbs is fit him too as he hs shown great quality and on the performances we have seen has showed that he is much better than Bridge. In my opinion there is no need to worry about the Terry / Bridge issue as we dont need to take Bridge!!!

Posted 11:20 12th February 2010

Ryan Cope (Birmingham City fan) says...

Reference to Ian David's comment. Baines is a good left back no doubt, but gets exposed defensivly. Surely a left back should defend first then attack second. Warnock also has an eye for goal and is capable in playing in a varirty of positions which would come in useful. Obviously we all want Cole to be fit as he is by far the best Left back in the world but as a replacement, you can't look past Warnock! Come on England!

Posted 11:02 12th February 2010

Ron Stone (Manchester United fan) says...

Baines better than our left backs??? LOL from a united fan as well, LOLLL! This is not good. Sorry Ian mate, your way off the mark there, Evra has been THE outstanding performer for united apart from Rooney. It is close between Evra and Cole as to who is the best LB in the world! Im biased so im with Patrice. As much as i am happy that Chelsea have lost a key player, this is only bad news for our WC chances. Cole Has been integral for chelsea and would have been for England. None of the back-ups come anywhere near his quality.

Posted 10:59 12th February 2010

Daniel John (Chelsea fan) says...

zhirkov is good...though cole was better......evra is no way better than cole...

Posted 10:45 12th February 2010

Ian Grooby (Everton fan) says...

To try and blame Donovan for the injury is incredibly childish, anyone who has seen it can see it was a soft tackle in which Donovan made contact only with the ball. As for Cole's England replacement, Baines hasn't put a foot wrong defensively this season, he's classy going forward, and he can take penalties!

Posted 10:05 12th February 2010

Aaron Gormley (Chelsea fan) says...

Ashley Cole is a Legend Best Player In The World!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 09:44 12th February 2010

David Thorne (Manchester United fan) says...

In reference to Ian David, are you seriously saying that Leighton Baines is better than Patrice Evra?

Posted 09:30 12th February 2010

Amit Dewan (Chelsea fan) says...

Massive blow to Chelsea. Zhirkov plays well, but doesnt have the stamina to play well for the entire match. Chelsea Time for other teams to put pressure on the league leaders. Gear up Chelsea....

Posted 09:16 12th February 2010

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