Cole blow could lead to Capello relying on Bridge

The Chelsea defender limped off in agony during Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at Everton and is expected to miss the remainder of the Premier League campaign, leaving his place in Fabio Capello's squad for the finals this summer in serious doubt.

Highly regarded by England's coach and seen by many as the world's best left-sided defender, Cole's absence would deliver a massive blow to a side who are third favourites behind Spain and Brazil.

Capello, however, has made it clear that he is only willing to take fully-fit players to South Africa, and with Cole unlikely to feature in a competitive game between now and their departure for the tournament, it would seem he needs a rapid recovery to stand any chance of forcing his way into the squad.

The ramifications of Capello losing his No 1 left-back have the potential to make a huge impact. For Cole's injury will provide former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge with the chance to become Capello's first-choice full-back, should the now-Manchester City player still want to represent his country.

Bridge has been drawn into a media storm over the past couple of weeks involving his former Stamford Bridge team-mate John Terry, who was stripped of the England captaincy by Capello after newspapers reported an affair with Bridge's ex-girlfriend – one-time French lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel.

Bridge and Terry used to be close friends off the pitch and such a painful and public scandal has left many questioning whether the duo could or even should represent their country together again.

There were even suggestions in the immediate aftermath of the story breaking that Bridge might opt to quit international football, something which would now cast a bigger shadow over Capello's plans.

Without Cole, Bridge would undoubtedly be the Italian's first choice to fill the vacant left-back role, but should he decide that playing alongside Terry in an England side is too difficult for him, then options for that position would seem thin on the ground.

Everton defender Leighton Baines would be the only viable option should Capello decide he wants someone who plays regularly in the position at club level. However, Gareth Barry, James Milner or even Bolton's Matt Taylor could be seen as players versatile enough to step in if required.

A spokesman for Chelsea confirmed last night that Cole would 'miss the next three months of the season having suffered a fracture to his left ankle' and his club manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted he was unsure if the defender would be fit enough for the summer showdown.

"We are obviously very disappointed because Ashley is a very important player for us," he said. "We have to hope that he recovers quickly.

"I do not know if he will be fit for the World Cup but I hope so for him and for the England team."

England open their campaign in South Africa on June 12 with a match against the United States but Cole will have to convince Capello he is back to full fitness before he names his 23-man squad.

An initial squad will be announced on May 12, four days before the side leave for a pre-tournament training camp in Austria and a friendly against Japan. Capello will then name his final squad on June 1, a day before they fly out to begin preparations for their opening match.

England's last two World Cup campaigns have been dogged by injury to key players with the metatarsals of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney causing consternation in 2002 and 2006 respectively.

Both were injured when named in squads by then-coach Sven Goran Eriksson and the team's preparations were clouded by a media circus and an on-going 'will-they-won't-they?' debate about whether the players would recover in time.

Capello is not the sort of man to gamble on his team's chances, especially not with something as important as the World Cup, and that could yet determine Cole's fate.

He will hope, along with every England supporter, that if he is missing his main man, that Bridge and Terry are able to patch up their differences.

Their country may just need them.