Wenger: Cole out for 'three weeks minimum'
Arsene Wenger has revealed Ashley Cole will be out of action for a minimum of three weeks – but the Arsenal manager hopes to have both the full-back and fellow defender Sol Campbell back in his side by the end of the month.
The England duo have been hampered by a series of injuries, but Wenger revealed both players were responding well to treatment.
Left-back Cole hurt his ankle early on during Monday night’s reserve game against Tottenham, an appearance in which he hoped to build up match fitness after a broken foot and then a thigh problem.
The prognosis, however, is encouraging, with scans confirming it was not ligament damage.
“Ashley will be out for three weeks minimum because of an ankle sprain,” revealed the Arsenal manager.
“It is on the left foot and it is nothing to do with the surgery he had before, but it is still a pain that stops you from playing.”
Campbell, meanwhile, has yet to play since suffering a nightmare opening 45 minutes in the 3-2 home defeat by West Ham on February 1 with an ankle problem sidelining him after being granted an extended leave of absence.
But Wenger is confident the 31-year-old centre-back will soon be match fit, even if he has to do without the experienced defender again for next week’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
“He is doing very well in training,” Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.
“I believe he will be out for another two weeks maximum. One week to get back to full training and another week to get back for a run-out in a game.”
