Chelsea winger Joe Cole spent the concluding months of
last season
training
largely in isolation, as he recovered from damage to his
anterior cruciate ligament, sustained whilst on FA Cup duty in
against Southend United in January.
The England international is back working with his colleagues again
now though, as the Blues new manager Carlo Ancelotti puts the squad
through its pre-season paces, and Cole is delighted to be able to
at least begin to put the time spent on the sidelines behind
him.
"I like being back, it's great when you come back and get involved.
Everyone is fresh and you can see the lads bouncing round and it's
good to welcome the new players in," he told the Blues' official
website.
"We've made two good young signings in Sturridge and
Turnbull, and Zhirkov who has given us all sorts of problems, we
know what he can do but it's great to see some English players. Not
just on the pitch but off the pitch, they are so important for us
this year.
Despite his progress though, the 27-year-old would not be drawn
into specifying a date for his return to competitive action,
preferring to take a cautious approach.
"The main thing for me is last season I started with
niggles and my natural way was to keep trying and wanting to help
the lads, but I never got myself fit," he explained.
"In the end the knee went so I learn a lesson from that
and play games when I feel strong and ready.
"There is no rush, as far as I am concerned Chelsea don't
want me at 50, 60 per cent, it does nobody any favours, they want
me at 100 per cent, so I will come back when I come back and take
every day of training as it comes.
"You want to play games, I don't know when I will be back
doing that but it will be great to see the lads settling in, and
maybe more players to come in before then."
goal.com