Jose rocked as Bridge is ruled out for months

Ashley Cole is still struggling to recover from an ankle operation at the end of last season and Bridge has been ruled out of action until at least October.

Bridge, who will also miss England's friendly against Germany next month and the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel, Russia and Estonia, saw a specialist in Colorado on Friday morning.

The defender missed his club's 2-1 win over Club America on Saturday night and has been told by surgeons he will not even be able to kick a ball for two months.

Chelsea initially believed Bridge, who broke down in training last week, was suffering with a hip injury but he was sent to see a specialist when his condition did not improve.

He will fly back to England later today to begin his rehabilitation but Chelsea still have two more games to play as part of their U. S. tour. Bridge, who was out injured for most of last season, said: "It's very frustrating.

"No one wants to miss pre-season. It's one of the things that you have to do to get over all the muscle aches and pains. I'm going to have to work especially hard."

Bridge's injury provided reminders of last year's two-week spell in Los Angeles when midfielder Joe Cole damaged knee ligaments in their pre-season friendly against the MLS All-Stars.

It is a bad start to Chelsea's pre-season preparations and they are also missing Claudio Pizarro after his spell at the Copa America with Peru, along with Mikel John Obi and Paulo Ferreira as they enter the last week of their spell in Los Angeles.

Manager Mourinho handed a debut to Jack Cork, 18, son of former Wimbledon striker Alan, as Chelsea stumbled to victory.

But Florent Malouda gave a glimpse of the form that persuaded Mourinho to splash out £13million.

The new signing scored Chelsea's equaliser and although their supporters will soon tire of his ludicrous 'Crazy Frog' goal celebration, there is more to come from the France winger.

He has settled quickly into his stride and his arrival can only improve the attacking threat. The 27-year-old said: "It was great fun to play with my new team-mates.

"It was the perfect start for me, but I can't say it is going to be like that in every game. I played some of the match on the wing and some in the middle, but I am prepared to adapt my game as well.

"It was tiring at the end, but we will be back in training on Monday."

A late goal from captain John Terry sealed the victory, and Mourinho felt it was a worthwhile exercise.

He said: "I'm pleased. I want to thank Club America because they gave us exactly what we needed - good competition.

"It was a very good game by our team. There was good passing, good defence, and a good overall game."

Despite the win, there are still rumblings of discontent among the Chelsea squad about the continued absence of Michael Ballack.

The Germany midfielder underwent further surgery on his ankle in the summer, but he opted out of spending time with his team-mates to remain at home and continue his rehabilitation in England.

With Steven Sidwell arriving to compete for a place in the centre of Chelsea's midfield, Ballack is no longer considered to be one of Mourinho's 'Untouchables'.

Ballack's career at Stamford Bridge was on the line last season when he flew to Germany for an operation on his ankle, apparently without the club's knowledge, but his explanation was eventually accepted by Mourinho.

He will not be fit for the start of the new Premiership season and Mourinho has made it clear that the £130,000-a-week star will not walk straight back into the team.

The Chelsea boss said: "He is a player I like very much, but his life is not easy. Like the other people, life is not easy.

"We have a lot of good players. I'm not the kind of coach that gives places to people just because they are faces or names. Everybody with me has to fight for his place. But I think they have a difficult task because the squad is really good."

Chelsea's pre-season programme will step up a gear tomorrow when they play Samsung Bluewings at the Home Depot Center and then LA Galaxy - when David Beckham will be making his eagerly-awaited debut - on Saturday night.