Jose Mourinho casts doubt over Ashley Cole's return to Chelsea first team

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has suggested that left-back Ashley Cole is unlikely to be handed a first-team role at Stamford Bridge in the near future.

The 33-year-old has not started a Premier League fixture since January 11 as Cesar Azpilicueta is favoured in that position by the Portuguese coach.

England manager Roy Hodgson recently claimed that he is unsure whether Cole will remain as his first-choice left-back for this summer's World Cup in Brazil due to his lack of playing time.

According to ESPN, when Mourinho was asked whether Cole would feature in the Blues' upcoming games, he said: "I don't know. I'm very happy with the way Cesar Azpilicueta is performing."

Cole, who has been linked with a summer move away from the West London outfit, was also absent from Chelsea's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round last Saturday.