Bridge will stand up and think of England

MANCHESTER CITY boss Roberto Mancini expects Wayne Bridge to answer England’s World Cup call.

With Ashley Cole ruled out for three months, Bridge is now first in line to replace the Chelsea left-back in next month’s friendly with Egypt and possibly the World Cup itself, if Cole’s recovery does not go as planned.

That has raised inevitable questions about Bridge’s ability to play alongside deposed captain John Terry, given the recent furore over the pair’s private lives. However, Mancini does not see a problem.