Ashley Cole could be facing three months out of action, according to press reports.

The Chelsea defender was carried off in the second half of England's 3-0 win over Estonia on Saturday after going over on his ankle at Wembley.

The Sun claims scans undertaken on Monday revealed no break, but enough ligament and muscle damage to warrant a 12-week period on the sidelines.

Cole was replaced by Joleon Lescott at the weekend and the Everton defender seems likely to keep his place in Steve McClaren's side for the trip to Russia on Wednesday.

Should Cole be sidelined for as long a period as feared, he will miss England's final Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia, the remainder of Chelsea's Champions League group games and the Blues' busy Christmas schedule.

Eurosport