• Europa League

Cole returns for Reds

ESPN staff
December 1, 2010
Joe Cole sustained a hamstring injury against Bolton © Getty Images
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Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is set to return for Liverpool in their Europa League clash against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday.

Cole has not played since October after picking up a hamstring injury, but his return is a welcome boost for Reds boss Roy Hodgson, who has decided to rest striker Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt ahead of their Premier League clash against Aston Villa on Monday.

With defender Jamie Carragher sidelined for up to three months with a shoulder injury, 18-year-old Danny Wilson is in line for only his second start for the Reds.

The Scotland international, who is yet to feature in the Premier League, will partner Sotirios Kyrgiakos in central defence.

"Martin Kelly and Danny Wilson will start against Steaua Bucharest and it's a great opportunity for them to stake a claim to be in the first team," Hodgson told Liverpool's official website. "Torres won't travel. I can leave maybe as many as six or seven players who I expect to start against Aston Villa out of the team.

"It means on paper I'm taking a weakened team, but I believe people like Joe Cole, Ryan Babel, Milan Jovanovic, Danny Wilson, Christian Poulsen and Jonjo Shelvey are more than capable of doing a good job for Liverpool Football Club."

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