Arsenal announce Cole setback
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Article summary
Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger confirmed that Ashley Cole will be out for eight weeks with a fractured foot, twice as long as was originally forecast.
Article body
Surgery
Cole has undergone surgery on a stress fracture in his right foot and is unlikely to return before the end of November. The 24-year-old played no part in the victories against Austria and Poland which earned England a place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and will now miss all but one of Arsenal's remaining UEFA Champions League matches in Group B, a pool the Londoners top after two opening victories.
Campbell hope
Centre-back Sol Campbell suffered a hamstring injury playing for England on Saturday, but the damage is not as serious as first thought, although midfielder Aleksandr Hleb is more of a worry after taking a blow to his knee as Belarus defeated Scotland. "We are short at the moment but Sol's absence will be shorter than expected. He could be fit for Tuesday," said Wenger, looking ahead to the trip to AC Sparta Praha.
