Both players suffered set-backs last week, with Cole suffering a sprained ankle in his comeback game for Arsenal reserves, while Bridge damaged ankle ligaments in England's friendly with Uruguay.

Cole has been out for most of the season with foot and thigh injuries, whilst Bridge has been making a comeback from a broken ankle this season, meaning that England Head Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was unable to field his preferred left-backs during the final stages of World Cup qualification last year.

The latest set-backs sparked fears that neither would travel to Germany this summer, but Bridge has returned to training this week and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has dismissed worries of an eight-week lay-off for Cole.

Wenger said: "He'll be out for three to four weeks. That leaves us at the end of March. You can be completely reassured that he'll be OK for England."

Bridge, who is currently on loan at Fulham from Chelsea, is now likely to be back in a matter of weeks rather than months.

The news will be a massive boost to Eriksson, with the squad for Germany set to be named in May and only two warm-up friendlies left before the big kick-off in June.