England full-backs Ashley Cole and Luke Shaw primed for a World Cup shoot-out

England face Denmark at Wembley tonight in the final friendly before manager Roy Hodgson selects his squad to take to Brazil this summer.

Of the 23 men going to to the World Cup finals there will only be two left-backs, and Hodgson's admission that he does not need to look at Leighton Baines against the Danes suggests the Everton defender is almost certain to go to the tournament.

That leaves Cole and Southampton youngster Shaw vying for the final position in the squad.

"I've spoken to Leighton and he won't feature, unless we get an incredible number of injuries," the England manager said. "All three of them want to play, but even with substitutions I can't fit in three left-backs.

"It's the right moment in this game to look at one of or both Luke and Ashley Cole, as Leighton has been playing regularly for us.

"The two I need to look at in an England shirt are Ashley and Luke."

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Cole's tricky predicament is well-known by now. The 33-year-old has made 12 Premier League starts for Chelsea his term, and just two of them have come since the turn of the year.

Every time he is named on the substitutes' bench, Cole's chances of making his fourth World Cup finals decrease.

Shaw is just 18-years-old but he is regarded as one of the most promising players in English football.

Hodgson handed Cole his 100th cap earlier this season and he is not about to give up on the Chelsea man just yet.

"Knowing Ashley as I do I'm pretty certain he is working every day to show Jose Mourinho he is making the wrong choice," Hodgson said.

"If he doesn't get back in the team it is not going to change my opinion on Ashley Cole."