Blow for Chelsea as injury sidelines Cole

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Rafael Benitez expects Ashley Cole to be sidelined for at least a fortnight after the Chelsea left-back suffered a hamstring injury against Manchester United.

Cole limped off midway through the first half, having pulled up during a race for the ball with United’s Danny Welbeck.

The injury is another concern for interim manager Benitez, who expects Gary Cahill to be unavailable for at least another couple of weeks.

Cahill has been nursing a knee problem he picked up during the recent victory against West Ham.

Benitez said: “With this kind of injury [Cole’s] it is at least two weeks.

“The problem we have now is that Cahill will be out for at least 15 days – two or three weeks – so we will have to manage the squad.”

Cole’s injury dampened an otherwise excellent day for Chelsea, whose replay victory at Stamford Bridge set up a trip to Wembley to face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals.

“It was an important win for everyone here,” Benitez declared.

“Our priority is to finish in the top four but any top side wants to compete in the cups. This is a great victory for us.”

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