Chelsea FC

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Bridge blow rocks Blues

16 Jul 2007 - 11:15:32

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Chelsea have been handed a huge pre-season injury blow with the news that Wayne Bridge has been ruled out for up to three months with a fractured pelvis.

The England left-back is currently in the US on the Blues' pre-season tour and was sent to a specialist in Colorado last Thursday after reporting discomfort.

The 26-year-old underwent scans which revealed a fracture in his pelvis and the news leaves Chelsea without a senior left-back as Ashley Cole is still recovering from knee surgery.

Bridge is now likely to miss the opening two months of the new season plus the remainder of England's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

The former Southampton defender ended last season as manager Jose Mourinho's preferred choice in the left-back berth following Cole's disappointing first season at Stamford Bridge.

Bridge started the FA Cup final ahead of Cole and made 35 appearances in total last term.

Speaking after Saturday's 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Club America in San Jose, Mourinho told the club's official website: "Jack Cork played left-back at the start because Bridge will be out for a long time and we are without Ashley Cole for a few more weeks."