Joe Cole is confident of getting back to his best at Chelsea next season.

Cole came back sooner than predicted from a fractured bone in his foot and was able to play a part for club and country in the final two months of the campaign.

But he has still been in discomfort, not able to train fully and lacking in full sharpness despite scoring a superb opening goal for England in the 3-0 win in Estonia.

Cole said: "With my injury, I've missed most of the season and no-one expected me to see be back playing.

"Even my mum and dad had booked their holidays in Cyprus so they weren't in Estonia and they usually come to all the games!

"I even proved them wrong by being back playing so soon. Now I am looking forward to the break and hopefully can have an injury-free season next season.

"There was a stress fracture in the bone of the foot which is very rare for footballers. It was supposed to be a six to eight-month injury but I got back in three and a half months and played the last two months of the season.

"I haven't been able to train properly at times but I knew Chelsea needed me and so did England. With a bit of luck, I can come back free of injuries next season and get back to my top form."

Cole admitted: "It has been frustrating but you've just got to deal with it. Football and life throw things at you that you don't like. I kept telling myself much worse things could happen to me.

"I just dealt with it and focused on getting as fit as I could. I still get some pain. It's normal. Things will go right naturally. The surgeon and the rehab team did a great job. The foot is still remodelling itself.

"It is hard to explain but everything is good and positive and it's nice to be back playing."