Striker Andy Cole's bid to win back his place in the England squad for the World Cup starting next month has been undermined by a whispering campaign, his Blackburn Rovers manager Graeme Souness claimed. ''I have said it before and I will say it again: Andy Cole should be going to the World Cup,'' Souness told Sky Sports Television after Blackburn's 2-1 English Premier League win at Everton.

''But I think he will not be going for non-footballing reasons. Someone has said something that has stopped him getting on that plane to the World Cup.''

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Cole reminded England manager Sven Goran Eriksson of his predatory qualities with an opportunistic winner in the Goodison Park clash.

Cole showed good positional sense to pounce with a diving header after Damien Duff's volley was blocked by Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard. But the former Manchester united striker, who was also booked for an ugly challenge on Thomas Gravesen, said he thought there was little hope of him reclaiming his place in the national squad.

''I think there is no chance of that,'' said Cole, who moved to Blackburn in late December in a bid to boost his chances of making Eriksson's final 23-man squad.

Cole has found the net 10 times in 18 appearances since his transfer but he has been unable to force his way back into contention.

Eriksson is expected to take five strikers to the finals in Japan and South Korea in May and June with Michael Owen, Emile Heskey, Robbie Fowler, Darius Vassell and Teddy Sheringham widely regarded as the leading candidates.
Bureau Report