'Cole may be fit to face Chelsea' says Hodgson

Cole could still face his former club (GETTY IMAGES)

Roy Hodgson remains hopeful that midfielder Joe Cole will be fit to face former club Chelsea on Sunday after initial fears that the midfielder would be out for two weeks.

"With Cole it's not as bad as feared", Hodgson said. "It shouldn't keep him out for that long. I would say it's a week to 10-day injury." Cole was substituted in Liverpool's 1-0 win at Bolton Wanderers last Sunday. Initial diagnoses gave him no chance of facing the club with whom he won three Premier League, three FA Cup and two League Cup winners' medals over seven seasons.

But he might still be in contention. "It's a question of how quickly he can recover and what progress he can make," said Hodgson.