Cole plays through pain barrier

Ashley Cole will defy the pain from a knee injury to play for England in Spain on Wednesday.

The Arsenal full-back still suffers discomfort from the knee that he injured in the challenge from Ruud van Nistelrooy at Old Trafford last month which earned the Manchester United striker a three-match ban.

But, despite his injury, Cole has continued to play for Arsenal who have lacked cover for him because promising young French defender Gael Clichy has been out for a month with an ankle injury.

Cole is now willing to do the same for England and will arrive in Spain tonight buoyed by the 5-4 win over Tottenham.