Ashley Cole has been ruled out of England's friendly international against Paraguay next week with a knee injury.

It's another blow for England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson but it should help Saints fullback Wayne Bridge add to his two full England caps.

Another of Bridge's rivals for the left-back slot in Eriksson's World Cup squad, Chelsea's Graeme Le Saux, is also currently injured.

Arsenal defender Cole will also miss his side's FA Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Manager Arsene Wenger is hoping Cole will be fit to return in the Premiership against Ipswich a week on Sunday.

Cole suffered the injury in Arsenal's Premiership clash with Saints on February 2.

He returned as a substitute in the Champions League game at Juventus on March 20, and kept his place for the FA Cup quarter-final replay against Newcastle three days later.

However, he suffered a recurrence of the injury and was forced to withdraw from the England squad for last month's friendly against Italy.