Cole will have to buck the trend for the English footballer abroad

by Adam Bate

Lille may be a long way from Lourdes but the message from Joe Cole is clear – his visit to France has given him a new lease of life.

Cole had cut a forlorn figure at Liverpool but the loan move to Ligue 1 has seen him reinvigorated. Roaming the field with freedom and dribbling past defenders for fun, it is easy to be reminded of the player once hailed as the saviour of English football.