Chelsea's Ashley Cole broke his left ankle and will be out of action for three months, causing the defender to miss most of the rest of the season though he should be back in time for the World Cup.
The England leftback was injured in a challenge by Everton's Landon Donovan in Wednesday's Premier League game, which Chelsea lost 2-1.
Although Chelsea did not suggest that United States international Donovan had fouled Cole - who will be his opponent again at the World Cup in June - coach Ray Wilkins said after the game it was a strong challenge made while the leftback was off balance.
The club announced on Thursday that a scan revealed the full extent of the injury and Cole was expected to be out of action for approximately three months.
Wednesday's defeat cut Chelsea's lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premier League to one point and Cole will miss most of his team's matches both domestically and in the Champions League.
If the club's initial prognosis is accurate, however, he should be back before the season ends and that gives him time to join up with the England squad headed for South Africa.
England will face the United States at the World Cup on June 12 in Rustenburg and Cole will hope to play in that game, where he will face Donovan again.
Cole's injury might also result in a new twist to the John Terry story.
England coach Fabio Capello took the captaincy away from Terry last Friday amid widespread publicity over allegations that the married Chelsea player had an affair with the former girlfriend of England teammate Wayne Bridge.
Bridge is Cole's regular backup in the England squad and Capello might well call up the Manchester City leftback to play alongside Terry in the friendly against Egypt on March 3.
