• Champions League

Chelsea defender Cole out of Schalke clash

ESPN staff
October 21, 2013
Chelsea prepare for Schalke clash


Ashley Cole has been left out of the Chelsea squad for Tuesday's Champions League clash away to Schalke.

Cole, 32, has not travelled to Gelsenkirchen after failing to recover in time from the rib injury sustained in the Blues' 3-1 win at Norwich earlier this month.

The left-back, who has now returned to training, was forced to miss both of England's recent World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland as a result.

Andre Schuerrle, however, has returned to the Chelsea squad after shaking off a muscle problem which meant he had to sit out of the 4-1 win over Cardiff on Saturday.

Aside from Marco van Ginkel, who is expected to be sidelined with injury for around six months, Blues manager Jose Mourinho has no new fitness concerns ahead of Tuesday's game.

Chelsea, who sit third in Group E, will be hoping to secure a result against Schalke, having slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Basel at Stamford Bridge in their opening Champions League game.

Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho has confirmed John Terry will start the match, alongside either David Luiz or Gary Cahill.

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