Thursday, 24th July, 2014



Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has insisted that he expects Joe Cole to be fit to face Stoke City in his side’s Premier League opener on 16th August.

The former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder, who joined the Villains this summer, picked up a thigh injury during his side’s 3-1 win over Mansfield in a pre-season friendly last week.




As a result, Cole did not feature in Villa’s 2-0 triumph over FC Dallas last night.

And Lambert, who admitted that the 32-year-old may also miss the pre-season game against the Houston Dynamo at the weekend, however, feels Cole will be fit in time to face the Potters at the Britannia Stadium.
 


"Joe has a little knock on his thigh. It's a minor knock”, the manager told his club’s official site.  

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"He will be touch and go for Saturday. I won't rush him.

"But I am not too concerned. I think Joe will be fine for the first day."

Cole joined Villa from their Premier League rivals West Ham United on a two-year deal last month, following the expiration of his contract with the Hammers.

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