Cole burning for Mestalla action

Joe Cole hopes and prays that his return to first-team action with Chelsea FC does not coincide with his club's departure from the UEFA Champions League.

Cole comeback
His first experience of the competition this year came late on against Valencia CF as José Mourinho's team desperately sought a second goal to boost their chances of claiming a place in the semi-finals for the third time in four years. Along with the rest of the Chelsea substitutes, Cole could only sit and admire the quality of David Silva's goal which gave the 2000 and 2001 finalists a half-time advantage at Stamford Bridge. Sent on for the last 15 minutes, he was unable to make the difference and the Premiership champions had to be satisfied with a 1-1 draw following Didier Drogba's headed equaliser.

'Big injuries'
Nevertheless, for the England international it was a fantastic feeling merely to experience the cut and thrust of top-level competition again. "I've been out a long time and it's been a difficult season," said Cole. "I've missed more or less the whole campaign with two big injuries [to his right knee and then a stress fracture to his foot] and I'm feeling my way into it but I'm sure I'll have a part to play once I get my fitness and sharpness back. It's great for me that there are so many big games coming up."

Busy schedule
One of those, of course, is next week's return with Valencia which finds Chelsea needing an improved performance if they are to progress further in the UEFA Champions League - their main ambition in a six-week finale to the season which sees them fighting on three fronts with the English League Cup already secured. With Arjen Robben sidelined following a knee operation, Cole's value as a player who can produce the unexpected in wide areas could see him emerge at the forefront of Mourinho's plans for the Mestalla return.

Scouting trip
Having taken advantage of a few days break last season to go to Spain and watch Valencia's game with FC Barcelona, the quality the visitors demonstrated at Stamford Bridge as their brisk, accurate passing produced a number of goalscoring opportunities, came as no surprise. "All games at this level are tough, tough games and especially against Valencia who have been one of the best sides in Spain over the last ten years," added Cole. "They have a proven pedigree in this competition and they showed that tonight. Nevertheless, we dominated the game and felt we should have won but it wasn't meant to be. Now we need to be at our best over there to go through, to give one of our best-ever performances. We need to score goals and win the game."

Drogba's 30th
To that end they will be relieved that Drogba was back on the scoresheet after going six games without finding the net. With his 30th goal of a magnificent personal campaign, the Ivorian international became the first Chelsea player to reach that mark for 22 years. "This was not the best result for us but we showed good character after they scored an unbelievable goal. We can still be confident over there," said Drogba.