Chelsea and England left back Ashley Cole has been ruled out of England’s World Cup Qualifier with Ukraine at Wembley on Tuesday night with a persistent ankle injury, according to talkSPORT.
The defender missed England’s comfortable 5-0 victory away in Moldova on Friday night due to the injury and he will not join up with the squad this week as planned.
Cole is hoping to be fit for Chelsea’s return to Premier League action at the weekend but fellow Blues left back Ryan Bertrand is an able deputy after securing a new long term contract at Stamford Bridge.
Cole’s replacement in the England side, Leighton Baines, impressed for his country on Friday and will be hoping to push the long term left back out of the squad permanently. Baines scored, via a deflection, and his set piece delivery and attacking threat is on par or superior to the injured Cole’s.
England will be in a terrific position in their World Cup Qualifying group if they can win at Wembley on Tuesday and will feel confident already of making it to Rio in 2014.
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