Who Should Fabio Capello Take To Replace Wayne Bridge for the World Cup?

With Wayne Bridge announcing himself out of the squad and Ashley Cole in a race against time to be fit, Fabio Capello must surely be looking at his options for the left back position in England’s World Cup team.

Who should be on the plane to South Africa?

Joleon Lescott (9 caps, 0 goals)

Man City’s £24 million acquisition had a great couple of seasons for Everton following a move from boyhood club Wolves, but injury has kept him out of a regular spot at Eastlands.

Lescott is a centre back by trade, but he has played left back for England before and has played under Capello in the friendly against France.

Strong defensively and with an eye for goal, Lescott presents the more "solid option," but he is not a natural full-back and doesn’t add the natural width that other options have.

What to expect: A starting berth if Ashley Cole doesn’t recover in time.

Leighton Baines (16 U21 caps, 1 U21 goal)

Despite Everton’s abysmal start to the season, Leighton Baines has been a consistent high performer for David Moyes this season.

Baines has a tremendous left foot and is a real threat from set pieces, though he would likely be well down the pecking order for England.

He naturally attacks down the flanks much more than Lescott and has no qualms about getting down the other end of the pitch and getting a ball in.

Unfortunately for the Liverpudlian, Baines has no senior England experience, something that is likely to be a highly prized commodity for Capello.

He has been called up to previous squads by the Italian, though, so he could feature on the periphery.

What to expect: A place in the squad, with a chance to play when more natural width is needed.

Stephen Warnock (1 cap, 0 goals)

Cast aside by Benitez during one of his many clearouts, Warnock found consistency for Blackburn before making his name as regular performer for Aston Villa this season.

He is perhaps best described as a blend between Baines and Lescott: strong at the back with the ability to get up the pitch, but not excellent at either.

His solitary England appearance came under Capello in the friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, sharing the unenviable record of shortest England career to date (eight minutes), though, like Baines, he has had his share of squad call-ups.

What to expect: An outside chance of making the squad.

Andy Wilkinson (0 caps)

The popular Stoke left-back has been touted in the Potteries as a possible addition to the England squad in time for the World Cup, with a series of eye-catching performances at the Britannia.

This, however, is what can only be described as a long shot.

What to expect: A couple of rumblings from Tony Pulis before this tall tale dies.