Fergie calms Cole's concerns

Ferguson says Cole will have to be patient

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has reassured Andy Cole that he still has a major role to play at the club despite the striker's concerns about holding down his place.

Cole, who is battling with Ruud van Nistelrooy, Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for a first-team place, has said he might have to leave Old Trafford to get regular first-team football.

Cole's future is solid as far as I'm concerned

  Sir Alex Ferguson

"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 told the club's 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.

"Everyone in the Premier League has remarked on that over the years - managers, players, the press - so why should we change it now?"

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 on Monday to prepare for Wednesday's friendly against Holland.