Football Corner

England have already suffered a set back before they have even kicked a ball in their two upcoming World Cup qualifiers, the blow is that left back Ashley Cole will not take part in the games due to an injury picked up in training with the other England players. The Arsenal defender has sustained a stress fracture of the foot and looks set for at least a month on the sidelines. England manager Sven Goran Eriksson has called up Liverpool youngster Steven Warnock, but insists England still have plenty of options despite Cole's withdrawal.

"We have a lot of options there, Jamie Carragher is one, Warnock is another, Kieran Richardson is playing left-back for Manchester United at this moment," he said. "But it is a pity to lose Ashley Cole, probably the best left-back in the world. "It so often happens when one full-back is injured the other is as well in Gary Neville and Ashley Cole." The last time Cole was unavailable - against Sweden in a friendly in March last year - Carragher played at left-back in a match England lost 1-0. England face Austria at Old Trafford on Saturday and then play their last qualifying match at the same venue against Poland on the Wednesday.

This is a big blow for England because Cole is one of the best left backs in the world and any team would miss him. They have got alot of defensive options but I think Carragher will get the nod to fill in for him in the England left back position. It is also a big blow for his club Arsenal because he is likely to be out for a month and he will miss a few games for them.