Everton boss David Moyes has backed left-back Leighton Baines' claims for a place in England's World Cup squad. Cole fractured his ankle playing in Chelsea's defeat at Everton on Wednesday and now faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the tournament in South Africa.

Moyes, speaking before Cole's injury, said: "I think the England left-backs will be Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge and then I think it is toss-up between Stephen Warnock and Leighton Baines.

"I think Bainesy on his day is a match for any of them and I know Fabio Capello knows about him. He is certainly in and around the reckoning.

"He has been a very consistent player for us this season, as he was last year.

"I think Bainesy is one of the players who has kept a good level of performance even when things weren't going well."