England international Cole was training with his Blues team-mates at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow when he appeared to get a kick on his ankle after a challenge from team-mate Claude Makelele.

Cole stayed down for a long time before being helped off the field by Chelsea staff, although did then gingerly begin running again to try and overcome the problem.

Cole had the injury to his right ankle sprayed and then strapped up by medical staff and then tried to run the injury off by taking part in a training match.

But he did not appear to be moving freely and his session ended before that of his colleagues.

However in a report published on Chelsea's website about the training session, the club said: "In a challenge with Claude Makelele in front of hundreds of cameras and the world football press, Ashley Cole hurt his right ankle.

"He was treated, it was tested, then strapped - but after consultation between Grant, club doctor Bryan English and physios Dave Hancock and Thierry Laurent - Cole resumed and took full part in the final training game - only disappearing down the tunnel after the players had listened to Avram's address and been stood-down for a final kickaround."

Fellow England left-back Wayne Bridge could step in against Manchester United on Wednesday night if Cole does not manage to prove his fitness.

Chelsea squad: Cech, Hilario, Cudicini, Belletti, Ferreira, Alex, Ben-Haim, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole, Bridge, Makelele, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Kalou, Wright-Phillips, J Cole, Malouda, Drogba, Shevchenko, Anelka, Mikel.