Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole out for two weeks

Cole picked up the injury in Sunday's win over Bolton

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole has been ruled out for two weeks after pulling a hamstring in the 1-0 win at Bolton.

The injury means he will miss Sunday's visit of his former club Chelsea and the Europa League game against Napoli.

"It is not a serious injury but he is likely to be out for two weeks," said the club's head of sports medicine Dr Peter Brukner.

Cole, sent off on his Premier League debut for Liverpool, has admitted that he has struggled for form this season.

However manager Roy Hodgson said such honesty was admirable from a player who has scored only once from 13 appearances since a summer switch from Stamford Bridge.

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"It's a good sign he said that because it takes a certain type of player to be able to face up and be so honest," Hodgson told the club website.

"It's better coming from him than from me.

"When people look at him or, say, Fernando [Torres] to criticise, I as a manager feel it comes upon me in my responsibilities to stand in the way.

"I've got to protect because I know how hard both of them work and I know how badly they want to play well for Liverpool.

"Football is not a science. It is a sport. Sometimes you are in better form than others. If you are a good player, like Joe and like Fernando, you play better more often.

"He is a quality player but we haven't seen the best of him - absolutely not. There is more to come from him and he knows that."

Cole was replaced by David Ngog on 62 minutes on Sunday and the Frenchman could start against Chelsea this weekend, although Hodgson may choose to bolster his midfield by including Christian Poulsen, Milan Jovanovic or Ryan Babel.