The England star has started ten games in The Premiership
for The Blues since his summer transfer from West Ham
and has been substituted in all and was hauled off on
the hour mark in the 0-0 draw with Birmingham on Sunday
under the watchful gaze of national boss Sven Goran
Eriksson.
The
£6.6 million signing confesses he dreads seeing
the substitute board go up every time he is on the
pitch, and fears that his constant failure to finish
games is hampering his chances of securing a seat
on the plane for this summer's European Championship
finals in Portugal.
Cole
said: "It's tough. Some players can turn it on
and off, but I need to have some sort of continuity."
Cole
was given a rare 90 minutes of action in the FA Cup
replay victory over Watford last week but said he
feared seeing his number every time "Tinkerman"
Ranieri wanted to bring on some fresh legs.
"There
were a few scary times when the board was going up
for the subs, but I got through it," added the
Stamford Bridge schemer.
Ranieri
is not exactly short of options in midfield but has
given Cole a starting berth in the last four matches
with Juan Sebastian Veron and Emmanuel Petit out injured.
The
Italian though looks hell bent on overloading his
engine room further, after having a bid for Charlton's
Scott Parker turned down and is reportedly in the
hunt for Borussia Dortmund playmaker Tomas Rosicky.
If
Ranieri were to sign either player it may hinder Cole's
chances even further as he has yet to score for the
West Londoners in the league or in Europe this term,
with his three goals coming in the Carling Cup and
in an international friendly against Denmark.
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