England boss Fabio Capello is ready to select Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge ahead of his teammate Joe Cole.

The Independent says in the Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday, Capello was at Stamford Bridge to watch another fine performance from Bridge at left-back against Everton while Cole was sat in the stands for the new England manager's first visit to Chelsea. Cole is understood to be philosophical about his situation, but concerned that he will not be in the side to face Spurs in the Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.

Having injured his ankle in England's Euro 2008 win over Russia on 14 October, Cole did not play again until late November and since then he has found that he has shared the left-back spot with Bridge. On Tuesday night, Chelsea's manager, Avram Grant, reacted angrily to the suggestion that Cole had been dropped, saying instead he preferred to "rotate" the pair. There is no doubt however, that Bridge's star is on the rise.