Joe Cole: I can't rush my return for England after eight months out

25 September 2009 12:05
With World Cup qualification already secured, forthcoming games against Ukraine and Belarus give Fabio Capello an ideal opportunity to test formations, different personnel and, of course, welcome some back into the fold. A case in point is Chelsea's Joe Cole. Back after eight months following a knee injury and already with 90 minutes of Carling Cup action under his belt, Cole has a chance of featuring in Capello's squad when it is announced in 10 days. By then, the 27-year-old midfielder should have featured for Chelsea in their games against Wigan, APOEL Nicosia and Liverpool. It could be enough to build up both his fitness and sharpness. But Cole's place in the pecking order remains to be seen. His last England game was the 4-1 thrashing of Croatia over a year ago. Since then, Steven Gerrard has emerged as the prime candidate on the left of midfield. Further obstacles are the form of James Milner and Aaron Lennon, while Theo Walcott and Stewart Downing are recovering after injury. Squeezing all the players, not to mention David Beckham, on the plane to South Africa will be no easy task. Cole said: 'The country is on a high the way the lads are playing at the moment. I'd like to get back but that's for the future. It's day by day, keep working hard and when that challenge comes along I'll attack it. 'All I can do now is to recover. It would be stupid for me to say, "I'm back now and I'm going to be here, there and everywhere". I just want to be stronger every day.'

Source: Daily_Mail