Has Landon Donovan Put Ashley Cole out the World Cup?

Bad news for Chelsea’s EPL challenge has come out of West London this morning. Left back Ashley Cole will be out of action for three months following an injury he sustained at Goodison Park during his side’s 2-1 defeat at Everton.

As with all serious injuries sustained in World Cup year, speculation immediately begins about the victim’s fitness for the summer jamboree.  On occasions, when the injured player comes from a country due to play that of the tackling player, all kinds of conspiracy theories begin. So who is the player responsible for Cole’s injury? None other, than America’s own Landon Donovan whose challenge fractured Cole’s left ankle.

After a scan today, Chelsea officials said Cole would be out for three months. Yuri Zhirkov and Paolo Ferreira are likely to compete for his spot in the Chelsea team, but at England level this injury has added complications for coach Fabio Capello.

Cole will definitely miss England’s only scheduled friendly before the World Cup, against Egypt at Wembley on 3 March, although there are plans to arrange another game against Mexico ahead of the finals.

Cole could be back in action by mid-May but it leaves him only a handful of games before the finals in South Africa get under way.

That means Manchester City’s left-back Wayne Bridge, who was caught up in the scandal that led to John Terry being stripped of the England captaincy last week, is likely to come into the reckoning. Terry was dismissed as captain by Capello for an affair with Bridge’s ex-girlfriend.