Wilkins backs Cole for South Africa

23 September 2009 08:54
Ray Wilkins believes Joe Cole can still claim a place in England's World Cup squad next summer. Chelsea's assistant boss revealed Cole has come through some difficult times after being out for eight months with knee ligament problems. The 27-year-old will be in Chelsea's starting line-up for the first time since last January when the Blues take on QPR in the Carling Cup at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Cole is desperate to rekindle his career and bag a place in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad next summer and with a good season behind him, Wilkins says he has every chance of making it. "The important thing with Joe is that he's had a few problems with his knees, but his knee is far better prepared for football now," said Wilkins. "He's a much stronger footballer now. He'll be a bit ring rusty, but he's put so much work in it's lovely to see him back. It's been tough for him. But the workload he's put in has been phenomenal. "He will give us something different as well. The World Cup is a lovely carrot for him - to work back into Fabio's reckoning. 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."

Source: Eurosport