Cole close to Chelsea comeback

Joe Cole is close to making his comeback after a knee injury and John Terry admits he has been sorely missed by England and Chelsea.

Cole will again be absent from the England side for tonight’s European Championship qualifier with Croatia and has played just 10 minutes as a substitute for Chelsea this season.

But Terry believes the midfielder could be back in the Blues squad for the weekend Premiership clash with Reading after playing 90 minutes in a friendly on Tuesday.

Terry said: “Joe is so desperate to get back playing football, both for Chelsea and England. You know what Coley is like. I speak to him regularly and he’s itching to be away with us now in Croatia.

“Joe is like that. Maybe he rushed it a bit to get back before but he’s very close now to coming back.

“He’s been training very hard back at Chelsea to get himself fit and even has a chance of making the squad for our game against Reading. I think he will be back to full fitness very soon.

“I’ve got my fingers crossed for him because we’ve certainly missed him, both here with England and back at Chelsea.”

Terry has set his sights on emulating the achievement of England and Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard in reaching 50 caps for his country.

Lampard will reach that milestone in Zagreb, seven years after winning his first cap.

Terry, who has won 33 caps to date said: “It is a great achievement for Frank to get to 50 caps. It is also a target of mine and many other players.”