Joe Cole says he is quite relaxed about the decision to pull him
out of international duty next week.
After initially being named in the England U21 squad to face Holland, his name was withdrawn following a series of phone calls yesterday.
He explains:
"I'm not going to be travelling with the 21s because Sven, Glenn, David Platt, and myself think it would be a better idea for me to get some fitness sessions in for the start of the season.
"But it is very organised and every party seems happy.
"I spoke with Glenn a lot on Thursday morning and he explained, and I also spoke to David Platt and he told me what the thoughts of different parties were; you can't ask for any more than that.
"I've got to get my fitness first and foremost for West Ham and the England thing might come a bit too soon."
He also stresses that he had no problems about not being picked for the full squad, adding:
"Whenever I pull an England shirt on it's going to be a proud moment for me, regardless of what level it is at.
"It was felt that the best course of action had been to put me in the U21s and I'm happy to play for England in any team.
"But a week's training at West Ham, to get my fitness back without distractions, was then considered to be the better option."
He is hoping to be able to cheer Michael Carrick on next week, though, and adds:
"I think Michael will be in the full squad; he's been looking strong in the preseason, and hopefully West Ham will get a good season out of him.
"I'll be supporting Michael and England on Wednesday - he's my mate and I want him to do well.
"If he gets a game it can only be good for West Ham.
"Hopefully Trevor Sinclair and David James will get picked as well."
After initially being named in the England U21 squad to face Holland, his name was withdrawn following a series of phone calls yesterday.
He explains:
"I'm not going to be travelling with the 21s because Sven, Glenn, David Platt, and myself think it would be a better idea for me to get some fitness sessions in for the start of the season.
"But it is very organised and every party seems happy.
"I spoke with Glenn a lot on Thursday morning and he explained, and I also spoke to David Platt and he told me what the thoughts of different parties were; you can't ask for any more than that.
"I've got to get my fitness first and foremost for West Ham and the England thing might come a bit too soon."
He also stresses that he had no problems about not being picked for the full squad, adding:
"Whenever I pull an England shirt on it's going to be a proud moment for me, regardless of what level it is at.
"It was felt that the best course of action had been to put me in the U21s and I'm happy to play for England in any team.
"But a week's training at West Ham, to get my fitness back without distractions, was then considered to be the better option."
He is hoping to be able to cheer Michael Carrick on next week, though, and adds:
"I think Michael will be in the full squad; he's been looking strong in the preseason, and hopefully West Ham will get a good season out of him.
"I'll be supporting Michael and England on Wednesday - he's my mate and I want him to do well.
"If he gets a game it can only be good for West Ham.
"Hopefully Trevor Sinclair and David James will get picked as well."