Joe Cole is close to making his comeback after a knee injury and John Terry admits he has been sorely missed by England and Chelsea.

Cole will again be absent from the England side for Wednesday's European Championship qualifier with Croatia and has played just 10 minutes as a substitute for Chelsea this season. But Terry believes the midfielder could be back in the Blues squad for the weekend Premiership clash with Reading after playing 90 minutes in a friendly on Tuesday.

Terry said: "Joe is so desperate to get back playing football, both for Chelsea and England. You know what Coley is like. I speak to him regularly and he's itching to be away with us now in Croatia."