Ashley Cole’s World Cup dreams are virtually over after it was revealed he will not play for Chelsea again this season.
And even the most optimistic reports from the Stamford Bridge medical team put his chances of making the England squad as 'touch and go'.
Cole broke his left ankle on February 11 against Everton and underwent an operation to have three pins inserted in the bone.
He has spent three weeks in Biarritz undergoing intensive rehabilitation but is still on crutches and cannot put any weight on the foot.
There is still major swelling around the injury and Chelsea doctors fear his recovery has fallen behind schedule because of the seriousness of the break.
A Chelsea source said: "Ashley is still in a bad way. We were hoping he would be further on in his recovery but the signs are not good as far as the World Cup is concerned. At best, it's touch and go for South Africa.
"It's hugely unlikely he will play another league game this season and that only leaves the FA Cup or Champions League finals to prove his fitness."
That would not be enough time for Cole to convince Fabio Capello that he is fit enough to travel to South Africa.
Capello's 30-man preliminary squad joins up on May 17 and travel to Austria where the England boss will cull seven players.
The Italian has made it clear he will not risk ANY injured players in the tournament which leaves him with a major problem at left back.
Wayne Bridge does not want to be considered for England duty while John Terry is in the squad.
That leaves the inexperienced pair of Leighton Baines and Stephen Warnock as Capello's only options should Cole be ruled out.
And even the most optimistic reports from the Stamford Bridge medical team put his chances of making the England squad as 'touch and go'.
Cole broke his left ankle on February 11 against Everton and underwent an operation to have three pins inserted in the bone.
He has spent three weeks in Biarritz undergoing intensive rehabilitation but is still on crutches and cannot put any weight on the foot.
There is still major swelling around the injury and Chelsea doctors fear his recovery has fallen behind schedule because of the seriousness of the break.
A Chelsea source said: "Ashley is still in a bad way. We were hoping he would be further on in his recovery but the signs are not good as far as the World Cup is concerned. At best, it's touch and go for South Africa.
"It's hugely unlikely he will play another league game this season and that only leaves the FA Cup or Champions League finals to prove his fitness."
That would not be enough time for Cole to convince Fabio Capello that he is fit enough to travel to South Africa.
Capello's 30-man preliminary squad joins up on May 17 and travel to Austria where the England boss will cull seven players.
The Italian has made it clear he will not risk ANY injured players in the tournament which leaves him with a major problem at left back.
Wayne Bridge does not want to be considered for England duty while John Terry is in the squad.
That leaves the inexperienced pair of Leighton Baines and Stephen Warnock as Capello's only options should Cole be ruled out.
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