Ray Wilkins blames Rafael Benitez for Ashley Cole's injury

Former Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins believes that interim manager Rafael Benitez should take the blame for Ashley Cole's hamstring injury.

The England international will be out of action for two weeks after suffering the problem during the Blues' FA Cup quarter-final replay victory over Manchester United yesterday.

Following the blow, Wilkins has claimed that Benitez's decision to rest Cole for Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday made the full-back more prone to injury.

"He never played on Saturday at Southampton, he plays 15 minutes against United and Danny Welbeck takes him on a run and he pulls his hamstring," Wilkins told talkSPORT.

"I honestly feel he has to play all the time, Ashley. He is one of these machines. You have to keep it well oiled and it will fly. Had he played on Saturday, he wouldn't have done that yesterday."

Chelsea will face Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.