Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has admitted that, after getting back into Fabio Capello's provisional England squad for the 2010 World Cup at the eleventh hour, he is determined to do everything in his power to ensure he is in the Italian's final 23.
Cole's domestic season with the Blues has been ravaged by injury, with the 28-year-old finding it difficult to force his way back into the Premier League champion's starting line-up after missing the first few months of the campaign with a long-term injury.
But given a last gasp chance to prove his worth at international level by Capello, Cole is determined to make the absolute maximum of the opportunity to play in another World Cup.
"I want to go to the training camp [in Austria], force my way into the final 23, then get in the first eleven, and then once I'm in that I'll be looking to win it," Cole told reporters.
"I'm ready, I'm fit. We've done a fitness test today and I'm the fittest player in the squad. I'm fresh and hungry and just want to get out there."
Before Cole can fly out with the rest of the England squad on Monday, however, there is the small matter of Saturday's FA Cup final against Portsmouth. And after scares this week about the fitness of defender John Terry, Cole admitted he was always confident the club captain would be fine for the Wembley game.
"I think, with JT, you would have to run him over a few times before he's not going to play," Cole said.
"I knew he was all right."
The Englishman's status at the club is currently uncertain, with his contract expiring at the end of the campaign and a new deal between club and player reportedly far from being agreed.
When asked about his future, Cole's hesitancy in his response suggests he is not fully expecting to ply his trade at Stamford Bridge next season.
"My future... the way I'm seeing it is I'm focusing on the cup final," Cole eventually stated.
Cole's domestic season with the Blues has been ravaged by injury, with the 28-year-old finding it difficult to force his way back into the Premier League champion's starting line-up after missing the first few months of the campaign with a long-term injury.
But given a last gasp chance to prove his worth at international level by Capello, Cole is determined to make the absolute maximum of the opportunity to play in another World Cup.
"I want to go to the training camp [in Austria], force my way into the final 23, then get in the first eleven, and then once I'm in that I'll be looking to win it," Cole told reporters.
"I'm ready, I'm fit. We've done a fitness test today and I'm the fittest player in the squad. I'm fresh and hungry and just want to get out there."
Before Cole can fly out with the rest of the England squad on Monday, however, there is the small matter of Saturday's FA Cup final against Portsmouth. And after scares this week about the fitness of defender John Terry, Cole admitted he was always confident the club captain would be fine for the Wembley game.
"I think, with JT, you would have to run him over a few times before he's not going to play," Cole said.
"I knew he was all right."
The Englishman's status at the club is currently uncertain, with his contract expiring at the end of the campaign and a new deal between club and player reportedly far from being agreed.
When asked about his future, Cole's hesitancy in his response suggests he is not fully expecting to ply his trade at Stamford Bridge next season.
"My future... the way I'm seeing it is I'm focusing on the cup final," Cole eventually stated.
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