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Ancelotti hopes Cole will be fit for the World Cup

Ashley Cole is fighting the clock to be fit for South Africa © Getty Images

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Carlo Ancelotti believes Ashley Cole still has a chance to make England's World Cup squad after the left-back was ruled out for up to three months with a fractured ankle.

Ancelotti was a guest of the LMA at Wembley on Thursday night, when he told an audience that included England boss Fabio Capello that his stricken defender might still make it to South Africa.

The Chelsea boss said: "He is a very important player to us, but we also hope he can play in the World Cup. Yes, he will not be playing for three months but we hope that he will be ready for the World Cup.

"I don't know today whether he will make the World Cup as it is three months, but I hope he will be ready to return for us before the end of the season and perhaps play one or two games, yes, that is possible."

Cole fractured his ankle after 57 minutes of Chelsea's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Everton on Wednesday night when he was involved in a challenge with Landon Donovan - who represents the USA, England's first opponents in South Africa.

Cole will set a target of returning in time for the final day of the Premier League season on May 9. He would then have possible dates in the finals of both the FA Cup and the Champions League, plus two England World Cup warm-ups.

Under competition rules, Capello would be able to name Cole in his 23-man squad for the finals and replace him with another player as long as he is withdrawn before that opening match against the USA in Rustenburg on June 12.

After winning his first cap for England under Sven Goran Eriksson in 2001, Cole has gone on to represent his country 77 times and carve out a reputation as one of the world's finest defenders. He was first choice at both the 2002 and 2006 World Cup finals as well as Euro 2004.

The League Managers' Association - together with Barclays, Castrol and Jaguar - hosted the second annual dinner with the LMA President, Capello, as well as former England managers Graham Taylor OBE, Terry Venables and Eriksson in the Bobby Moore suite.

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