Rib injury rules Ashley Cole out of England's final World Cup qualifier against Poland

Left-back will miss crucial match at Wembely on Tuesday

Ashley Cole leaving the field after suffering a rib injury while playing for Chelsea against Norwich last Sunday

(GETTY IMAGES)

Ashley Cole has been ruled out of England’s final World Cup qualifier against Poland on Tuesday after it was announced he has failed to overcome the rib injury which ruled him out of the game against Montenegro.

Leighton Baines took Cole’s place in the 4-1 win on Friday and his performance was praised as England moved closer to securing automatic qualification to next summer’s finals in Brazil.

Chelsea left-back Cole, joint sixth in England’s all-time appearance record, has started four of England’s nine qualifying matches in Group H whilst Baines would make his sixth start in the same campaign if selected for the Tuesday night’s match.

A win against Poland would hand top spot of Group H to England, and Everton left-back Baines is set to deputise once more after the Football Association confirmed Cole’s absence on Sunday.