Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says Andy Cole's future at the club is "solid" despite the player's concerns about holding down a regular first-team place.
Cole, who is battling with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for a striker's place at Old Trafford, said last week he might have to leave the club to get regular first-team football.
"Andy Cole doesn't need to come to me to speak to me about his future. His future is solid as far as I'm concerned," Ferguson was quoted as saying on the official Manchester United website.
"There is a squad of players here and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been so patient over the years, while Teddy Sheringham had to be patient as well.
"We can't win this league or anything without the squad we've got.
United said Cole was absent from the squad for Sunday's 2-1 Charity Shield defeat by Liverpool for personal reasons.
The 29-year-old joined up with the England squad today to prepare for Wednesday's friendly against the Netherlands.