Bearded ... Ashley Cole this week

WORRIED Chelsea chiefs have sent a psychologist to check on love-cheat Ashley Cole amid fears for his mental wellbeing.

The expert was flown out on the orders of club owner Roman Abramovich following reports of bizarre behaviour by the downcast star.

Cole, recovering from a broken ankle at a clinic in France, has been wracked by grief after betrayed wife Cheryl ditched him over his flings and sex texts.

The Sun revealed earlier this week how he broke down and almost wept as he confessed: "My life is ruined."

Sources said the 29-year-old England left-back had appeared miserable and depressed since arriving at the clinic more than a week ago - and had gone days without shaving.

But after being told Chelsea were sending the psychologist to assess him, Cole promptly cut off his beard and trimmed his hair to give a good impression. A source close to Cole said: "He desperately wanted to look good for the psychologist.

"He knew the results would go straight back to the top and he wanted them to be positive."

The psychologist arrived at the Centre Europeen Reeducation Sportif (CERS) facility near Biarritz on Wednesday and had lunch with Cole and Blues team-mate Michael Essien, who is there for treatment on his knee.

Cole broke off his rehab programme in the afternoon to spend time with the expert in his room. A source said: "The day the psychologist arrived at the clinic, Ashley was in a completely different frame of mind.

"He had smartened himself up and was trying to be serious and sensible. It wasn't the Ashley we've been used to - he was clearly worried about something."

Cole, who is receiving hi-tech treatment on his ankle, is due to stay at the state-of-the-art clinic until early next week.

The Sun told yesterday how Chelsea sent two team aides to keep watch on him amid fears over his fragile mental state.

A spokesman for the West London club last night confirmed a psychologist had flown out.

He said: "It is a very normal procedure. We have a duty of care to all our players and we regularly send members of our medical team to help them get fit, especially those undergoing long-term treatment."