The 28-year-old will probably admit it was a frustrating season for him as he struggled to cement a place in the starting 11, but he popped up at important times with some vital contributions, not least his opening goal at Old Trafford in April.
The 2009/10 campaign began with promise, as Joe returned to pre-season training with the rest of the squad in positive mood having recovered well from cruciate ligament damage in January 2009.
A setback was to follow though, and he missed the tour of America, not returning to first-team duty until late September, when he produced a sparkling captain's display against QPR in the Carling Cup, offering 'that bit of fantasy' Ray Wilkins had said he would.
His next three appearances were off the bench before starts against Blackburn and Bolton, both of which were impressively creative.
A first goal arrived in late November as Wolves were pulled apart, and a run of four successive league starts in December and January produced five assists, a goal of his own disallowed at Burnley for offside.
Constant speculation regarding Joe's future perhaps began to take its toll though, and from February onwards he was used more regularly as an impact substitute, his play creating further goals against Man City and Portsmouth before the season's highlight - that delicate, cheeky back-flick that gave us the lead at Old Trafford, before Didier Drogba smashed home to secure three huge points in the title race.
Three late sub appearances in the Premier League, and an FA Cup Final cameo against Portsmouth at Wembley allowed further contribution to a record-breaking Chelsea season, and a late inclusion in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad will have been a huge boost after almost two years out of the national setup.
The 2009/10 campaign began with promise, as Joe returned to pre-season training with the rest of the squad in positive mood having recovered well from cruciate ligament damage in January 2009.
A setback was to follow though, and he missed the tour of America, not returning to first-team duty until late September, when he produced a sparkling captain's display against QPR in the Carling Cup, offering 'that bit of fantasy' Ray Wilkins had said he would.
His next three appearances were off the bench before starts against Blackburn and Bolton, both of which were impressively creative.
A first goal arrived in late November as Wolves were pulled apart, and a run of four successive league starts in December and January produced five assists, a goal of his own disallowed at Burnley for offside.
Constant speculation regarding Joe's future perhaps began to take its toll though, and from February onwards he was used more regularly as an impact substitute, his play creating further goals against Man City and Portsmouth before the season's highlight - that delicate, cheeky back-flick that gave us the lead at Old Trafford, before Didier Drogba smashed home to secure three huge points in the title race.
Three late sub appearances in the Premier League, and an FA Cup Final cameo against Portsmouth at Wembley allowed further contribution to a record-breaking Chelsea season, and a late inclusion in Fabio Capello's World Cup squad will have been a huge boost after almost two years out of the national setup.
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