Cole: Future rosy for Parker

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has backed team-mate Scott Parker to become an England regular in the future despite having missed out on the Euro 2004 squad.

While Cole was included in the provisional 23-man party named earlier this week, Parker was only placed on standby in case of injury to a team-mate.

His fate will not be finally decided until June 2, when the squad must be officially notified to UEFA, but 23-year-old Parker, with just two caps behind him so far, must now be fearing the worst.

Cole nevertheless insisted: “Scottie was unlucky, he’s a good friend of mine. He’s disappointed but he can come back and play many times for England in the future.”