Cole left in awe at rapid rise to success

It may be a Boy's Own dream but, outside of the pages of Roy of the Rovers, it is rare for a player to leap from obscurity to the national team in less than a season. Such is the spotlight on the modern game that even Under-15 internationals and domestic youth team matches are televised live.

Thus the arrival in the England squad of such players as Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard and Michael Carrick was long anticipated. Joe Cole, in particular, was the talk of the game far beyond Upton Park long before he had pulled on a claret and blue first-team shirt.

His namesake Ashley, however, really is an overnight discovery. At the beginning of the season he was hoping Nigel Winterburn's move to West Ham would give him the chance to establish himself in Arsenal's reserves and, depending on the fitness and availability of Silvinho, maybe play the occasional first-team match. Tomorrow he completes a memorable season, in which he has moved ahead of Silvinho at Highbury, by making his third England appearance.

Not that the 20-year-old is taking anything, including a place in the team to play Greece in the Olympic Stadium, for granted. "If anyone had said at the start of the season that I would establish myself in the Arsenal team, play in the FA Cup final, and make my England debut, I would have said they were talking rubbish," said Cole upon arrival in Greece last night. "I still do not think of myself as the No 1 Arsenal left-back. I only got into the team because Silvinho was injured so, as far as I am concerned, I am still the No 2. The same with England. How can I be considered the No 1 after playing one-and-a half games."

Because of his promise and performance. After Chris Powell and Michael Ball both looked at home when sharing the left-back position during England's first match under Sven Goran Eriksson, against Spain, Cole's promotion did not seem imminent. Especially as Cole had been badly embarrassed during Arsenal's 6-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

But Eriksson, and his assistant Tord Grip, had been impressed by Cole's performances in the Champions' League, especially in Lyon and Munich. Thus, after Powell faltered against Finland at Anfield, Cole was thrown into the team for the World Cup qualifier in Albania. Even the shock of being hit by a missile thrown from the crowd could not dent his joy at an excellent debut.

Looking back, Cole, who cites Winterburn and Roberto Carlos as his chief influences, reflected: "Everything coming this quick has probably helped me. You don't even think about it. It is always just another game. There is no time to feel tired. There was hardly time to even think about the lighter that came out of the crowd in Albania and hit me. Obviously it hurt, it hit me in the face. But it was my first game for England, we won, and that was all that mattered. It was an intense atmosphere that night and I expect it will be the same here. The crowd are going to be on our backs but, after that 6-1 thrashing by United, I think I can handle anything.

"That was the worst moment of the season. I did not play well and I was taken off at half-time. I was devastated. All my family were there: My mum, brother, uncle, cousin, the whole lot. It was my first game at Old Trafford and I was desperate to impress everybody. I had to apologise to them afterwards.

"They could not even leave at half-time like some of the Arsenal fans. It was really hard and I thought 'am I going to get another chance?' But Arsène Wenger always had faith in me. He must have thought it was a one-off and I played the next four games."

The Arsenal manager had given Cole his League debut against Newcastle United on the final day of the 1999-2000 season, and the Stepney-born defender is the first player to emerge from the youth ranks since Wenger took over at Highbury more than four years ago.

The Frenchman noted: "It is very satisfying to see a player like that come through, he has been with us since he was 12, but there will not be many like him, not at the big clubs. The pressure to win means you have to play experience. But you need to take some chances, I could have played Nelson Vivas [the Argentinian international] that day instead of Cole."

Wenger added, after referring to the converted winger's athleticism and ability on the ball: "He has all the attributes to be a successful modern left-back."