Source: PA
Hodgson backs Cole to get firing
Roy Hodgson accepts Joe Cole has made a terrible start to his Liverpool career but is not reading much into his early tribulations.
Cole made a bright initial impression against Rabotnicki in a Europa League qualifier but that was quickly forgotten as he was sent off on his first Barclays Premier League appearance for the Reds against Arsenal.
That incurred a three-match domestic ban but, free to play on in Europe, he compounded his misery by missing a penalty against Trabzonspor on Thursday.
Cole's frustrations will continue as he is forced to sit out Monday's trip to Manchester City and Hodgson concedes, despite him being eligible for the return against Trabzonspor, it will be some time before he shines. The Liverpool manager said: "The biggest blow is for him. He was so desperate to start his career here well and he hasn't done so.
"In his first game he managed to get himself sent off - albeit somewhat harshly - and in his second he missed a penalty. It has been a bad week for him and now it is going to be even worse because after the game in Turkey he will have to sit on his backside for two or three weeks because of the international break.
"It couldn't be a worse start for Joe Cole in his Liverpool career but starts are starts and finishes are finishes. We will judge Joe Cole on what he has done for Liverpool sometime in the middle of May when the final ball this season has been kicked."
