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Cole upbeat about fitness

10 Aug 2006 - 14:27:55

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Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole expects his recovery from a knee ligament injury to take only a few weeks.

The 24-year-old suffered medial ligament damage during the Blues' 1-0 friendly defeat against the MLS All-Stars last weekend and it was feared he would be sidelined for several months.

But tests revealed the injury is not serious and the England international has already been given the go ahead to begin rehabilitation work.

"I have had a couple of days in the pool and on the leg weights and it is coming along well," Cole told Chelsea TV.

"It is weeks rather than months. It is just up to me day-by-day, how I improve, when I start running.

"I am not going to set myself any targets but everyday the injury has got progressively better and hopefully I can come back as quickly as possible."

He added: "A medial injury is a horrible one for footballers because it lingers on after you get back and you keep getting niggles on it.

"But the sooner I can get back in the side the better. We have the best medical team in the world here, as you would expect at Chelsea, and they are giving me every opportunity to come back as soon as I can."