Joe Cole facing World Cup KO

Fabio Capello has sensationally left Joe Cole out of his England squad to face Egypt at Wembley on Wednesday.

The Chelsea wideman started in Saturday’s 4-2 home defeat to Manchester City, but the 28-year-old has been overlooked by Capello with Stewart Downing, Theo Walcott and Shaun Wright-Phillips all included in the squad.

The England chief has criticised Cole and believes he is not the player he was before an eight-month lay-off after injuring his cruciate knee ligament.

Capello said: “Cole did not play against Inter and it’s not a good moment for him.

“Chelsea prefer Daniel Sturridge at the moment. Cole has problems and he’s not the player I remember.”

Cole was left out of Chelsea’s Champions League defeat to Inter Milan in midweek but started over the weekend and despite delightfully playing in Frank Lampard for the first goal he faded badly against City and has struggled to find his form.

The former West Ham star, whose contract expires in the summer, has been in talks over a new deal at the Bridge but Carlo Ancelotti despite wanting to keep Cole has refused to guarantee the midfielder first-team football and his chances will be limited for the remainder of the season.

Capello has already spoken of his desire for his players to be playing week in week out and Cole, whose last appearance for England was in the September 2008 win over Croatia, looks set to be left on the sidelines when the provisional World Cup squad is named in May.