Chelsea will be without Ashley Cole for around three months after the England defender fractured his left ankle in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat by Everton.

The 29-year-old left-back limped off in the second half after a challenge by Everton's Landon Donovan.

A scan on Thursday revealed the full extent of Cole's injury.

It leaves him with a fight to regain his fitness in time for this summer's World Cup, with England's first match against the United States on 12 June.

Cole has been in superb form for Chelsea this season and his absence will be a blow to Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti, who saw his side's lead at the top of the Premier League cut to one point after their defeat at Goodison Park.

606: DEBATE Get well soon Ashley, by far one of our top players this term  SimplyZola

Yuri Zhirkov could deputise at left-back although Paulo Ferreira, predominantly a right-back, is versatile enough to play anywhere across the backline.

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.

And he 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 g

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Champions start summer deals with 3 palyers on the verge of joining united

Manchester United are on the verge of signing two new players Anderson from FC Porto, and Nani for Sporting Lisbon. Manchester United, have also confirmed that England midfielder and Munich player Owen Hargreaves will join them from the first of July.

Anderson described his move to Old Trafford as a 'dream come true'.

I'm sure a lot of people have never heard of Anderson and Nani, before here is a profile of both player.

Anderson

Full name: Anderson Luis De Abreu Oliveira
Nationality: Brazilian
Age: 19 (Born: 13 April 1988)
Position Attacking midfielder
Fee: Reports vary between £15m and £20m

Still a teenager the Brazilian has made a huge impact he is already in the Brazilian national squad, and some people dream about him becoming the new Ronaldinio. Born in Barcelona, he started his carrer at Gremio, where they consider him a pretty good player, after scoring the goal that sent them back into the top flight in a brutal match against Nautico in 2005.

He moved to Europe later that year, and made his Porto debut a little over twelve months ago, where he helped his club to the double.

Anderson says: "I could not imagine I would ever get to work with a manager like Sir Alex Ferguson but it has happened. It is a dream the size of the world."

Nani

Full name: Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha
Nationality: Portuguese
Age: 20 (Born: 17 April 1986)
Position Attacking midfielder
Fee: Anything between £11.5m and £17m say the reports

Nani has long been linked with a move to Manchester united, ever since he stated 'it would be dream to play with Critiano Ronaldo'

Born on the Cape Verde Islands off the west coast of Africa, he came through the Sporting Academy, a route previously taken by Ronaldo and Luis Figo, once his family had upped sticks for Lisbon.

Having made his debut as an 18-year-old, Nani became a part of the first-team squad at the start of the 2005/06 season and soon got his chance to impress.

Nani says: "The Premier League is one of the best leagues in the world and it will be a big challenge. I am prepared to go to England because I believe I will progress there."

Looks like United are doing well with there summer sighnings, people have been saying the pr esent United squad will be the Sir Alex Fugeson will build, but the sighnings of Nani and Anderson looks like a start of a new one. If Anderson does become the next Ronaldinio (maybe nowadays you would say the next Ronaldo) united will have two Ronaldino's.

Becks to play for England for the first time since the world cup

Steve McClaren's has picked David Beckham to play for England for the first time since the World Cup in Germany. Beckham thirty two, if plays will make his ninety fifth appearance for England. He will be in the England sqaud for both, the friendly against Brazil at Wembly, and the Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia.

Has McClaren lost his confidence by picking Beckham? I think it was a pretty intelegemt desigion not to pick Becks, since the England players will be used to having David Beckam as captain, , it will be difficult for McClaren's and Terry to get control of the team. McClaren is clearly loosing confidence.

McClaren also picked Michael Owen, who palyed for Englans B team in there three one win over Albania yesterday,Owen is set to play for Engalnd's main team for the first time since he was injured in the world cup match against Sweden.

The Full England squad:

Goalkeepers: Robinson (Tottenham), Carson (Liverpool), Green (West Ham).

Defenders: P Neville (Everton), R Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), Dawson (Tottenham), King (Tottenham), Shorey (Reading).

Midfielders: Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), J Cole (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Bentley (Blackburn), Carrick (Man Utd), Lampard (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Dyer (Newcastle).

Forwards: Crouch (Liverpool), Owen (Newcastle), Smith (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham).