Cole takes another step
Friday, 05 May, 2006
Ashley Cole's World Cup hopes look brighter after the left-back completed 90 minutes against Man City on Thursday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes England fans should see a 'perfect' Ashley Cole at the World Cup after the left-back played the whole 90 minutes against Manchester City on Thursday night, which the Gunners won 3-1.
"The positives are he's not injured and Ashley got better and better during the game," said Wenger. "We are at the beginning of May and the competition (World Cup) begins on 10 June. In five weeks you should see a perfect Ashley Cole."
Cole, who has played 44 times for England, has suffered foot and ankle injuries this season, which have limited him to only 11 appearances for his club this season.
However, Cole appears to have timed his comeback to perfection as Sven names his World Cup squad on Monday.
Wenger added: "It was his first game so of course you can't be at the top of your game, but he did last 90 minutes.
"He finished, of course, very tired but he had no injury in the 90 minutes.
"You need three or four games to get back to a very good level, but the positives are that he did not get injured and that he played better and better during the game."
Ashley Cole made his debut on 28 March 2001 against Albania in a World Cup Qualifier which England won 3-1 thanks to goals from Michael Owen, Paul Scholes and Andrew Cole.
The line-up that day was:
David Seaman
Gary Neville
Ashley Cole
Nicky Butt
Sol Campbell (Wes Brown 28)
Rio Ferdinand
David Beckham
Paul Scholes
Andrew Cole
Michael Owen (Teddy Sheringham 84)
Steve McManaman (Emile Heskey 46)
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