Cole ruled out for up to eight weeks

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October 14, 2005 12:07 IST

Arsenal left back Ashley Cole will be out of action for up to eight weeks with his fractured foot, manager Arsene Wenger told the club's website on Thursday.

Cole has undergone surgery on a stress fracture in his right foot and is unlikely to return before the end of November.

Central defender Sol Campbell suffered a hamstring injury playing for England on Saturday but the damage is not as serious as first thought. "We are short at the moment," Wenger said. "Ashley Cole will be out for six to eight weeks but Sol Campbell's absence will be shorter than expected. He could be fit for Tuesday."

Midfielder Alexander Hleb also sustained an injury playing for Belarus against Scotland.

"It is difficult to say how long he will be out for," Wenger said.

Aresenal play West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday and Sparta Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Wenger said Brazilian midfielder Gilberto would also miss the West Brom game as he is only due to arrive back in England from international duty on Friday, and striker Thierry Henry is still not fully fit.

"Thierry's progress is remarkable but we are going from day to day," Wenger said. "At the moment I do not want to fix any time but the signs are very positive."
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