Injury blow for Cole

England defender Ashley Cole suffered what may prove to be another injury blow tonight as his latest Arsenal comeback match lasted less than 10 minutes.

Cole was playing his first competitive match of the month, in a Premier League South reserves match against North London rivals Tottenham at Barnet’s Underhill Stadium.

However the 25-year-old left-back was soon withdrawn.

Cole, who fractured his foot in October, has played in just one senior match since, and a thigh muscle injury sustained against Middlesbrough last month halted his return to first-team action.

Arsenal had hoped he would soon be ready to return and aid their faltering push for a top-four finish.

However, with Cole suffering what may be a new setback, manager Arsene Wenger is likely to be forced to fill the left-back slot with untried and out-of-position players.

Kerrea Gilbert, Johann Djourou and Mathieu Flamini have filled in, in Cole’s absence.