Source: SKY_Sports
Cole set for comeback
Joe Cole has admitted his delight that he is on the verge of making his comeback to the Chelsea first team.
The playmaker has been out for eight months after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury, but he is expected to start against QPR in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.
Cole admits he has found his time on the sidelines difficult after setbacks in his rehabilitation, but insists that he never lost focus.
He said in The Sun: "I've really missed my football and it has been hard to watch the team.
"But I'm 27 now and have been through everything in my career, so mentally I was able to stay strong and deal with it by keeping busy.
"Two years ago I missed the whole season with two different injuries but this has been the longest absence of my career in one whack.
"But it never drove me mad as I realised just how lucky I am to be a footballer, even an injured one. I came in to training every day and tried to keep a smile on my face."
Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins also believes Cole, playing in a 'sausage roll' position, can force his way into England boss Fabio Capello's World Cup plans.
"He will give us something different. The World Cup is a lovely carrot for him - to work back into Fabio's reckoning," said Wilkins.
"A fully fit Joe Cole will be very much around the England squad. He could play in any of those three positions in the midfield diamond.
"He calls it the 'sausage roll'. The 'sausage roll in the hole'. That's Joe. But it's nice to see he's bubbling."
