Premiership: Cole keen to make a point

Andy Cole has vowed to win back his a place in Manchester United’s starting line-up - by scoring for England against Holland tonight.

Family problems kept the 29-year-old out of United’s Charity Shield defeat by Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium, but he is determined to return with a bang in Sunday’s Premiership opener against Fulham.

"I hope to be able to show the manager by my performance for England that I should be in the starting line-up for Sunday’s first league game against Fulham," Cole said.

"I want to play in every competitive match as I have already said, which I am sure is the case for all of the United players."

The former Newcastle star believes regular Premiership football is crucial if he is to realise his dream of leading England’s strikeforce in the World Cup finals next summer.

"I cannot afford to be sitting on the bench with a World Cup coming round," Cole said.

"As I have always said, to be automatic choice for the national team, you have to be playing well for your club. In a World Cup year that’s doubly important.

"I have shown already in the Champions League I can score goals at the highest level.

"Now I want to show I can do it for England. Sven-Goran Eriksson has shown faith in me and I aim to repay it. This is my last chance to go to a World Cup and I want to make sure England get there and I want to be with them."