Cole puts World Cup dream on hold

Joe Cole is putting his World Cup dream to one side in order to concentrate on making Chelsea champions again.

Cole has endured a difficult time since returning from cruciate surgery in September and was left out of Fabio Capello's squad for the recent friendly win over Egypt at Wembley.

"You cannot talk your way into the England squad," Cole told www.bbc.co.uk after scoring Chelsea's opening goal in their 2-1 win at Manchester United. "If I am playing regularly in a team fighting to be champions I will have every chance. But my main focus now is Chelsea."

He added: "It is very important this club gets back to the summit of English football. I want to be part of the team that becomes champions again."

Cole admits he has found it hard to hold down a regular place in Carlo Ancelotti's side.

The fierce competition for places at Stamford Bridge meant easing himself back to form was not an option and as the season dragged on, it seemed Ancelotti was determined to keep both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba in his starting line-up.

A minor injury that kept Drogba out of the Villa game gave Cole his chance and it would be a brave man who altered the formation again given how close Chelsea are to reclaiming a crown they last won under Jose Mourinho in 2006.

"It is not down to me to pick the team," said Cole. "But I enjoy playing on that right side.

"We changed the system in January and things went really well. We also changed the system in the last three games and the same thing has happened.

"I never lost belief in myself and there is no doubting what I can do. I just needed a run of games."