• International football

Cole still hopes for England call despite French move

ESPNsoccernet staff
October 15, 2011
Will we see Joe Cole in an England shirt again? © Getty Images
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Joe Cole is hopeful he remains in England manager Fabio Capello's thoughts despite now plying his trade in France.

Cole, 29, sealed a season-long loan move from Liverpool to Lille in the summer after struggling for fitness and form at Anfield, having signed for the Reds on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2010.

The midfielder has impressed since joining the Ligue 1 champions, recently opening his goalscoring account with a fine strike against Lorient, and he is determined to earn a first international cap since representing England at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Cole told The Guardian: "I miss playing for my country. I was a regular in the squad for ten years and perhaps took it for granted I would always be there.

"Now, having not been picked for a year, turning 30 next month and with the young players having come in and done well, you start to wonder: 'Are they still looking at me?'

"I hope I will be noticed. A lot of people in England questioned why I came over and maybe wrote me off. Perhaps they're now thinking I'm not finished after all.

"It's not that I want to prove them wrong - that would be the wrong motivation - but I do want to prove to myself that I'm still a top player. This is an environment where I can do that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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