Cole is looking like a doubt for Brazil as Shaw’s reputation at Southampton grows.
Southampton left-back Luke Shaw has been so impressive that England manager Roy Hodgson has suggested the teenager may get a World Cup place ahead of Chelsea’s Ashley Cole.
The 18-year-old broke into the Saints first team during their returning season to the Premier League in 2012 and quickly established the spot as his own.
Shaw has now played 54 matches for the south coast club in all competitions and has been linked with big money moves to both Manchester United and the Blues.
Whilst the youngster’s career is just getting going it’s a completely different story for Cole, who at 33-years-old is finding getting into Jose Mourinho’s starting XI in west London difficult.
The veteran full-back has struggled with both form and fitness in 2013/14 and Mourinho has generally preferred to play Cesar Azpilicueta on the left side of defence.
It’s this lack of playing time that worries Hodgson and could cost Cole a place on the plane to Brazil in the summer.
“Ashley Cole and Glen Johnson have something like 160 caps between them and we are talking about top class players but not playing is a bit of a problem,” the 66-year-old was quoted by the Mirror.
“For years, people have been understudy to Ashley. Now, it’s Ashley’s turn to sit back.
“England has not been as well off for full-back choices as we are today for a long, long time. Shaw is the obvious one who has been playing last season and has been in the team non-stop since the start of this season.
“I certainly wouldn’t write Ashley Cole out of any plans but he will have to accept, like everyone else, that competition for his place gets stronger all the time. I will have a decision to make.”
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