Carlton Cole's lay-off
West Ham striker Carlton Cole is expected to be out for six weeks with the groin injury he aggravated on England duty.
Cole was carrying the injury before joining up with Fabio Capello's squad and had to be taken off at Wembley during the friendly win over Slovakia on Saturday.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola said: "He will not need an operation but there is a problem between the muscle and the tendon in his groin. He will be out for six weeks."
However, Rio Ferdinand looks likely to recover for Manchester United's clash with Aston Villa despite an injury scare last night.
Ferdinand was taken off just before the end of England's victory over Ukraine, sparking fears of a recurrence of the groin injury which kept him out of the Slovakia game, but it is thought the centre-half will be okay for Sunday.
