Denmark v England
International U21 Friendly
SAS Arena, Herning
6.00pm (BST), 16 August 2005
Live on Sky Sports 1

Chelsea striker Carlton Cole hopes that Tuesday night’s game in Demark for England Under-21s will be the start of a very successful season.

Two important European Qualifiers are just around the corner for England and Cole has no doubt under Peter Taylor the team can achieve great things.

“Everyone is confident that we can get a result in Denmark and we are all hungry to do well in the qualifiers coming up,” he told TheFA.com.

“We put a lot of work in last season and got some important results away from home. We just have to carry that into this year.

“I love being around the players, the atmosphere is great and the manager makes everyone feel at home. It’s like a club team and everyone feels comfortable.

“Peter has always kept faith in the players and he believes in every one of us. We’ve got a lot of quality players and it’s good that he gives Sven options.”

The 21-year-old is expected to play in tonight’s friendly, but one of his regular Under-21 strike partners, Darren Bent, will be elsewhere in Copenhagen preparing for the Senior team’s game on Wednesday.

“Darren’s done very well. He’s gone to Charlton and made a dream debut and has been called into the senior squad,” he said.

“It gives me confidence that I can do the same thing if I can get a few goals in the Premiership, so hopefully I can get the call up one day.”

Cole spent the last two seasons away from Stamford Bridge on loan at Charlton, then Aston Villa. Now he’s back with the Premiership Champions he says he wants a share in the success.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back into action with Chelsea, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

“I have more Premiership experience now and I hope to prove to the manager that keeping me was a good idea.

“He’s said to me that I’m in the same position as all the other players, and everyone has to fight for their places.

He added: “Just to be involved in the squad is unbelievable for me. We’re capable of being one of the best teams in the world so to be a part of it is quality.

“It could be a brilliant year for me, it could potentially be one of the biggest of my career.”