Cole puts future on back burner

He was bitterly disappointed when, following his World Cup experience, he was omitted from the senior squad. But Cole then turned in the kind of committed performances for the Under-21's which has encouraged England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to give him another chance.

"It was a long and difficult season but I have to put all that behind me," said Cole. "I had a holiday in Dubai and now I can't tell you how good it is to train with some of the best players in the world.

"Now I'm in the squad, all I ask for is a chance. I know it's going to be difficult to dislodge the players there already but I can't try until the opportunity arises."

Cole's new-found maturity was perfectly illustrated towards the end of West Ham's struggle when he suppressed his natural inclination to go wherever the mood took him in a match in favour of a more disciplined, less adventurous role.

"I've had to sacrifice myself to the cause," he admitted. "It's not my favourite role in the team, but it had to be done. I even saw some statistics which put me up at the top of the table for midfield players making tackles. It shouldn't be me doing that, but we all had to knuckle down and do what was best for the team.

"I prefer a looser role and, at the start of the season, I was playing the best football of my career. The trouble was, it was in a team playing badly."

Cole will inevitably discuss his future with other members of the England squad at some point but he is careful not to be drawn on his plans, should he have made any.

"At some stage after these three England matches, I am going to have go away and get my head together. I was devastated when we were relegated and for some time after, but now I will have to put that behind me.

"Whatever the West Ham team next season, though, I am sure we will come straight back up."

That may be with Jermain Defoe, who provoked a furious response from West Ham fans when his representatives advised him to submit a transfer request less than 24 hours after the club had been relegated.

"Jermain's a good lad," said Cole. "I do think he has to take a good look at where he gets his advice from though.

"I speak to Jermain and he's West Ham through and through. He comes from Canning Town and supported them as a lad.

"My opinion is that, if West Ham want to keep him, there is a good chance of him staying."

Cole will be assured of a rousing reception at Upton Park, whatever colours he runs out in next time.

"The West Ham fans are different class," he said. "If they see you giving everything, then that's good enough for them and I have received some smashing letters from some of them and that has been greatly appreciated.

"Those supporters deserve to be supporting a West Ham team back in the Premiership."

He added: "I learned so much from last season and hopefully that will hold me in good stead for the future.

"It has been a very tough season, it's true, but these next couple of weeks I can forget all about it for a bit and just enjoy the atmosphere of being in this England squad. You never stop learning in this game and there are definitely lessons to be learned by watching some of these players in training."

Cole can also watch with a certain detachment as the Wayne Rooney factor intensifies and think back to the times when the West Ham star was lauded as the next Paul Gascoigne.

"Wayne's a great player and he has had a super season," said Cole. "To me, he looks like he is happiest when he's out there playing his football so I would imagine he will be gutted at missing out here.

"It's not easy when you're young and you're under the spotlight but he will come through it.

"I had something similar in my early days and I'm still alive and kicking."