Cole determined to prove himself at Anfield

Having spent the 2011-12 campaign on loan at French club Lille, the 30-year-old returned to Melwood earlier this week to begin pre-season training with the Reds under new manager Brendan Rodgers.

Cole is relishing the prospect of being a part of an exciting new era at Anfield – and insists he’s eager to show supporters he has plenty to offer to the cause.

“It’s great to be back,” the playmaker told Liverpoolfc.com. “It’s a clean slate for everyone, so I’m delighted to be back. Training has been good – and it’s nice to be back in England and nice to be back in Liverpool.”

Cole was one of Europe’s most wanted footballers two summers ago when he left Chelsea on a free transfer.

Liverpool beat competition from a number of other elite clubs to land his signature, though a red card on his Barclays Premier League debut for the club against Arsenal set the tone for a season disrupted by injury.

Asked whether he felt he had something to prove to Liverpool fans, Cole replied: “Of course. I don’t want to leave Liverpool one day having not been a success here or having left something here. I want to make an imprint at the club.

“I’ve been a success at West Ham, Chelsea and Lille – I don’t want people to be able to say that I haven’t here.

“I’d like to be given the opportunity to play, learn and improve, and join this great team. It’s a great group and I would like to be involved in this team and really push on.”

Certainly Joe Cole has the flair and technical ability to adapt into Rodgers tiki taka style. But the question that remains is whether Liverpool can gel as a team and produce the required results under such short span of time?