England coach Sven Goran Eriksson says he will stick by striker Andy Cole for Wednesday's World Cup qualifying match against Albania.
"If I find a better option then I would try it but I think Cole is a very good one to start, while there were other good options on the bench," Eriksson was quoted as saying in today's Daily Mail.
"I am happy with the way Cole is playing. He had one good chance and did not score. But so what? He was unlucky. Andy Cole is still an excellent football player."
The Manchester United player missed a great chance to score his first goal in 12 internationals in England's 2-1 win over Finland in a European group nine qualifier in Liverpool on Saturday.
Last week Cole said he felt he was unfairly treated by Eriksson's predecessors despite scoring in the Premier League and beating Denis Law's Manchester United record for scoring in Europe.
"It is the first time I have had this backing at international level," Cole was quoted as saying in last Wednesday's Manchester Evening News."If you're given a run in a team, people get to know your style then the goals will come." Reuters