Cole: I must prove my fitness
England full-back Ashley Cole admits he must get fit and play for Arsenal before the end of the season in order to make the World Cup squad.
Cole suffered an ankle injury in Monday’s reserve match against Tottenham which looks set to further delay his return to the Gunners’ first team.
He has experienced a season of ill fortune, starting just seven league matches having fractured a foot in October and sustained a thigh muscle injury on his comeback against Middlesbrough in January.
“The World Cup is in the back of my mind,” Cole told www.arsenal.com.
“But my main concern is getting back for Arsenal. I’ve got to be playing for Arsenal before I can get back in contention for England.”
Cole, who was speaking before his latest injury setback, stressed that England were in good shape to unseat Brazil as world champions.
He is likely to be back in action well before the end of the Barclays Premiership season, as the latest setback is not thought to be serious.
And providing Cole, 25, finishes the season unscathed he is certain to be included in Sven-Goran Eriksson’s 23-man squad.
“If everyone stays fit and we keep the same squad we’ve had in recent years then we've got a really great chance,” Cole added.
