Hodgson hails England stars' help

Cole's switch to Anfield from Chelsea was one of the biggest stories of the summer, but things have not gone according to plan since. The 29-year-old was sent off on his debut and has struggled for form and fitness ever since, but will make his first appearance in five weeks against Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League on Thursday night. And Hodgson is hoping that Cole can start to prove his worth after admitting that he has had difficulty acclimatising to life with his new club. "He isn't a naturally confident character. He suffers when things are not going his way," he told a number of national newspapers. "Everyone at the club has worked hard to make sure he doesn't take it too hard and take too much on himself, because he's quite happy to take responsibility. "Sometimes those players can take too much on themselves and push themselves even further down. Everyone at the club, but in particular the senior players and his England colleagues here, has done a great job. "I don't know how frustrated he has been. But he is a long time with us, a long contract and we know what he's capable of doing. The sooner he produces it of course the better for me, but there is no pressure on him in that respect."