Injury fears ease for Bridge

London: England received a World Cup boost on Thursday when it was confirmed that the ankle injury suffered by Wayne Bridge during the 2-1 friendly win over Uruguay was not as serious as first feared.

The 25-year-old left-back was stretchered off at Anfield on Wednesday after a collision with goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

It was initially feared he had suffered serious ankle ligament damage but, after a scan, his current club Fulham confirmed that he had only sprained his right ankle.

Bridge, who is at Fulham on loan from Chelsea, will miss Saturday's Premiership match against Arsenal but should be back in action soon.

The left-back's future meanwhile is the subject of fresh speculation following reports that Manchester City are preparing to bid £6 million to sign him this summer.

Bridge has had limited first team chances at Chelsea, where both Asier del Horno and William Gallas have been preferred for the left back role.

England's first-choice left-back, Ashley Cole, has been ruled out of action for a further three weeks after breaking down in his comeback match for the Arsenal reserves earlier this week.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said on Thursday that he hoped to have both Cole and his fellow England defender Sol Campbell back by the end of March.

Cole has been sidelined since October after breaking a foot and then developing a thigh problem. But a scan has confirmed that he did not damage the ligaments in his ankle when he broke down on Monday.

"Ashley will be out for three weeks minimum because of an ankle sprain," Wenger said.

"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 said. "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."