Chelsea's England defender Ashley Cole is expected to be sidelined for about three months after fracturing his left ankle in Wednesday's defeat at Everton, the London club said on their website (www.chelseafc.com).

The 29-year-old fullback is likely to miss the rest of the Premier League season, which ends on May 9, and faces a race to be fit for the World Cup in South Africa starting on June 11.

Cole, who has been England manager Fabio Capello's first choice left back, will be sidelined for their warm-up match against Egypt on March 3 at Wembley Stadium.

Chelsea will be without Cole for their Champions League last 16 first-leg tie at Inter Milan on Feb. 24 and the second leg on March. 16 when the club's former manager Jose Mourinho returns.

Cole suffered the injury just before the hour mark in the 2-1 loss at Goodison Park in a challenge with Everton's United States forward Landon Donovan, a player he could face in South Africa in the Group C opener on June 12 in Rustenburg.

Cole, who has 77 caps, is the joint-second most capped player in the current England squad along with vice-captain Steven Gerrard behind David Beckham (115). His understudy is former Chelsea team mate Wayne Bridge of Manchester City.

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