Cole vows to win back United place

Cole would love to be celebrating with United

Andy Cole has vowed to win back his a place in Manchester United's starting line-up by firing England to glory against Holland in Wednesday night's friendly.

Family problems kept the 29-year-old striker out of United's Charity Shield defeat by Liverpool at the Millennium Stadium.

But he is determined to return in Sunday's Premiership opener against Fulham.

"I hope to be able to show the manager by my performance for England that I should be in the starting line-up for Sunday's first league game against Fulham," Cole told The Sun newspaper.

"I want to play in every competitive match."

I cannot afford to be sitting on the bench with a World Cup coming round

  Andy Cole

Cole says regular Premiership football is crucial if he is to realise his dream of leading England's strike force in the World Cup finals next summer.

"I cannot afford to be sitting on the bench with a World Cup coming round," Cole said.

"As I have always said, to be automatic choice for the national team, you have to be playing well for your club.

"In a World Cup year that's doubly important. I have shown already in the Champions' League I can score goals at the highest level.

"Now I want to show I can do it for England. Sven Goran Eriksson has shown faith in me and I aim to repay it.

"This is my last chance to go to a World Cup and I want to make sure England get there and I want to be with them."