Source: Telegraph
Joe Cole 'ahead of schedule' in recovery from knee injury
Cole, 27, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in Chelsea's 4-1 FA Cup third-round replay win over Southend United on Jan 14.[LNB]In an interview broadcast on Chelsea TV, Cole said: "There was always a dream in my head of a possible Champions League or FA Cup final but the physios put the kibosh on that every time I mentioned it. So my comeback target is going to be pre-season for the start of next season."[LNB]As well as missing Chelsea's run-in over the second half of the season he will also miss England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Andorra, as well as the friendly against Slovakia later this month.[LNB]However, he said: "I am ahead of schedule. The physios are really happy with me and how I feel at the moment is how I am supposed to be feeling. There is obviously a bit of muscle wastage in the legs so I am working on that but I am pleased."[LNB]Cole is one of three Chelsea players to have suffered cruciate ligament damage this season along with Michael Essien and Paulo Ferreira.[LNB]Ferreira suffered his injury in training last week while Essien played on Saturday for the first time since last August when he appeared as a second-half substitute in Chelsea's 2-0 sixth-round FA Cup win at Coventry City. [LNB]
