Chelsea's Ashley Cole doubtful for Champions League clash with Galatasaray

Ashley Cole

Chelsea defender Ashley Cole missed the club’s training session earlier today and is rated as a doubt for the Champions League last-16 second leg tie against Galatasaray on Tuesday night, reports, ESPN.

The 33-year-old’s campaign has been blighted by a string of injuries and he is unlikely to return from a knee injury in time to face the Turkish outfit at Stamford Bridge as Jose Mourinho’s men look to secure a safe passage to the quarter-final stage after their 1-1 draw in Istanbul.

The left-back has missed the last nine Premier League fixtures for Chelsea and has struggled for game time throughout the campaign with several fitness complications.

Cole has lost his place in the side to naturally right sided full-back Cesar Azpilicueta recently, which has fuelled speculation that he will opt to leave the club that he joined from Arsenal in 2006 for a lucrative move to La Liga or the MLS.

His international futute is also in doubt as he faces a battle to earn a place in Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad due the emergence of Southampton youngster Luke Shaw. If Cole, as is expected, does not feature for the Blues during the run-in Hodgson may decide to take Shaw, who is in fine form, in favour of one the veteran defender.

Mourinho’s reluctance to utilise Cole even when he is fit paints a bleak picture of his future at the club and he looks increasingly likely to leave in the summer.

Ashley Cole has made just three appearances for Chelsea in the Champions League this season.