JOE COLE returns to competitive action at Chelsea tonight in his favoured central berth behind the strikers, the playmaking position he has christened “the sausage role”. He will be taking his first step towards regaining his England place in time for the summer’s World Cup.
The midfielder has been absent since rupturing his cruciate knee ligaments in January’s FA Cup victory at Southend, his return delayed further when he damaged the meniscus in the joint before the club’s pre-season tour of the United States in July. He will start tonight’s League Cup third-round tie against Queens Park Rangers, as a number of first-team regulars will be rested, although the Russia international, Yuri Zhirkov, will make his first appearance for the club.
Cole has not played for his country since he left the 4-1 victory in Croatia a little over a year ago on a stretcher, though he had previously been a regular in the national side. Chelsea should benefit from his eagerness to return to the fold. “Joe can make a difference because he does offer that bit of ‘fantasy’,” said the club’s assistant manager, Ray Wilkins.
“He can go both sides, left and right, plays a pass and his work ethic is quite special. The World Cup is a lovely carrot for him, to work his way back into Fabio Capello’s reckoning.
“He’s had a few problems with his knees but, with the reconstruction that has happened, the knee is far stronger and better prepared for football now. He’ll be a bit ring rusty but, given the amount of work he’s put in to get back, it’s lovely to see him back.
“It’s been tough for him but the workload he’s taken on has been phenomenal. The cruciate injury is difficult to recover from, not physically – medicine has really come on in that respect – but mentally. You get down in the dumps sometimes and you always worry it might go again, wondering about that first kick you get. But he’s received a number of kicks in training and he’s coped.
“He can provide something for us and for England . . . A fully fit Joe Cole will be in and around the England squad. He can play in any of the three midfield roles in the system we have but he likes that central one behind the forwards. He calls it the ‘sausage role in the hole’. That’s Joe. It’s nice to see he’s bubbling. We’re playing with the midfielders more ‘inside’ these days, so he’ll enjoy that, and he’s been looking forward to this for a long time.”
Zhirkov, too, could be forgiven a certain frustration, having seen his Chelsea career limited to date to a match-winning display in July’s friendly victory over Milan in Baltimore. He scored the winner that night only to be hampered by a knee injury since.
“He’s been desperate to show what he can do,” said Wilkins.
“You want to show people what you can do when you join a new club, so naturally there’s been a bit of frustration on his behalf, but it’s onwards and upwards now.”
Chelsea will give a number of squad players a start against the Championship side, resting, for example, Didier Drogba – a scan on the forward’s calf indicated he had been suffering from severe cramp against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday – and offering the academy graduates Sam Hutchinson, Jeffrey Bruma and Fabio Borini the chance to feature at some point.
The Londoners have still to receive Fifa’s full written reasoning behind its decision to impose a 12-month transfer ban on the club, although, as Chelsea prepare to appeal against that sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, there is an acceptance within the club that an opportunity has presented itself for the younger players.
“Carlo [Ancelotti] has been to watch the majority of the reserve games since he’s been here and those guys have impressed him,” said Wilkins. “This gives us an opportunity to bring these players in and use them later in the season.”
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Chelsea V QPR
Venue:Stamford Bridge Kick-off:Tonight, 7.45pm
