Chelsea fullback Ashley Cole is ready to lose the beard.

Cole promised that his unusual full beard will be the first casualty if he gets the call from England coach Roy Hodgson for the World Cup.

"At the start I was just lazy, not getting my hair cut, and my beard grew," he said. "I've got no one to impress, no one to shave for.

"But it would be hot playing it in summer. So if I do make it to the England squad it will be off!"