Warnock touted as England's answer

Villa defender Stephen Warnock has been identified as the ideal man to answer England's potential World Cup crisis at left-back.

The national team's preparations have been undermined, after first-choice Ashley Cole suffered an ankle fracture which has made him a major doubt for South Africa.

Question marks still hang over whether understudy Wayne Bridge is ready to make himself available for selection, following recent revelations that England team-mate John Terry had an affair with his former girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel.

Even if Bridge is named in the squad for next month's friendly with Egypt, Capello is expected to name at least one more left-back and Warnock did his prospects no harm by returning to Villa's starting line-up for Sunday's 2-2 FA Cup draw with Crystal Palace, following a three-week absence with a shin injury.

Claret and blue skipper Stiliyan Petrov believes the £8million summer signing has "every chance" of making the plane.

He said: "Can he go to South Africa? Why not? He's been playing magnificently he's been playing well and he's got every chance to be in Capello's squad for the World Cup.

"It's great to see Stephen Warnock back. He gives us a different dimension at left back. He gives us something that we didn't have for a long time when Freddie Bouma got injured.

"He came into the side at the start of the season and played brilliantly. He's been out for a few weeks and hadn't trained and considering that he performed superbly. He didn't feel anything which is really promising. He's looking after himself, he's a fit boy and when you've got players like that the manager really trusts them."

Former Liverpool and Blackburn defender Warnock was named in England's most recent squad for the friendly against Brazil in November, but was an unused substitute.