Cole for Christmas is Chelsea promise

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho has told England midfielder Joe Cole he would be “stupid” to change a winning side just to satisfy the player’s hunger for first-team football.

Mourinho believes the festive fixtures will present Cole with another chance in the first XI and insists he will not be allowed to quit the club.

Cole has not played for the first team since October and there has been renewed speculation over his future at Stamford Bridge. Spurs are among a cluster of clubs said to be interested in talking to Chelsea about his services when the transfer window opens next month.

Cole went public to say he wanted to stay yesterday and Mourinho has assured him his chance will come again.

“He will have his chance. I am happy he wants to stay and he is ready to fight for a place here,” the Portuguese boss said.

“It is the same feeling I have. Before he came out and said that, we had a conversation where I told him there was no chance of him leaving. I told him not to even think about it. I need everybody.

“He is a good player, he works very well and has a lot of ambition. But I also said to him that at the moment the team is winning, the team is playing very well and I would be stupid if I changed the team too much.

“I have Arjen Robben and Damien Duff playing in his position and it has been difficult for Joe to get a place. But I need to rotate players and he will have chances.

“He has already won six points for us with goals against Liverpool and Birmingham. We trust the boy and his chance will arrive.”

Mourinho knows he will have to rotate his squad even more over Christmas but he and his players are ready for the challenge.

“We are ready,” he said. “The game against Norwich and Aston Villa is no problem because we have one week between them.

“But after that we play Liverpool, Portsmouth and two games against Manchester United in the Carling Cup, so it is a busy January.

“The rotation will be good for the players because in January they will feel there is chance for everybody.”

Chelsea have no major injury worries for today’s Premiership clash with struggling Norwich at Stamford Bridge.

German international Robert Huth is back in training following the ankle injury he picked up while on international duty.

However, he is unlikely to be included in Mourinho’s squad for the visit of the Canaries.

Mourinho is almost certain to stick with the line-up that started against Arsenal last weekend.