Cole: I deserve England chance

Chelsea's Joe Cole today admitted he was "very disappointed" not to have been more involved in England's two recent European Championship qualifiers.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson had a shortage of fit midfield players - especially for the first match in Macedonia.

However, Cole, who came on as a second half substitute and played a major part in goals for Adrian Mutu and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the 4-2 win against Spurs, was an unused substitute in the first match in Skopje and replaced Wayne Rooney only for the last 20 minutes against Liechtenstein.

"I was definitely disappointed not to have been more involved," Cole said. "I think I deserve a chance on my performances for England but all I can do is keep coming on and playing well.

"I'm very disappointed because I think I've done well but, hopefully, it will change."

Cole said he also needs to break into Chelsea's first team and admitted the last thing he wanted was to be seen as a 'supersub'. "I don't want that so let's not even talk about it," he added. "I knew Chelsea were going to sign the best players but I'm confident in my ability. I think I can hold down a place here."

Cole is hoping his cameo performance against Spurs will earn him a place in tomorrow's line-up for the Champions League game against Sparta Prague.

"I'm looking forward to the game," he said. "It's the start of a new chapter, a new life for me. This club now have some of the best midfield players in the world but I still feel I am worth a place."