Joe Cole says he hopes to be fit and available for selection again
ahead of the Blackburn game.
He currently has his foot in traction and is forced to rest, but hopes that the injury which has dogged him all season will finally be cured in the next week or so.
"I did it in the first friendly game, but as we had lots of injuries I was trying to play with it.
"But it just wasn't happening; in the end it got so painful that I've had to take some time off, and luckily it came in the international week.
"I'm just resting up at the moment and it will be ready when it is ready.
"I played every game this season carrying a knock and it was gradually getting worse, so we had to stop otherwise it would have dragged on until Christmas.
"With Fredi coming back from injury it was probably easier for the gaffer, and to be fair he has treated me well, and done everything right by me.
"I wanted to train and play with the lads but you can only do so much; I have to get it right for myself and the good of West Ham.
"I wasn't able to strike the ball properly with my right foot, or dribble, which is the main part of my game - passing and dribbling.
"I tried to adjust and defend more but the pain was getting unbearable and it just hindered me too much.
"Hopefully Blackburn will see me back and as long as everything goes right, touch wood, I should be fine."
Every season of his fledgling professional career has seen him injured, but he says:
"These sort of injuries have gone hand in hand at the start of my career but I'm sure one day they will all clear up.
"They are not serious injuries like a recurrent hamstring, they are just where I have been kicked, and hopefully they will stop and I will go on an injury free run.
"It is a massive hindrance for a player like me, but I wasn't moaning about it at the start of the season, and I'm just trying to explain it to people now.
"I just can't wait to play football again; it does bug me being injured.
"I'm like a bear with a sore head round the house at the moment and you can't really speak to me.
"I try to keep my chin up and keep smiling, and I'm just trying to stay busy.
"Everyone who knows me knows how much I love playing and I'm just excited now for when I do get back."
He does say, however, that the recent events in America, coupled with his own growing maturity, have helped him gain a better sense of proportion about his problems.
"Things like that put it into perspective and that is what is really happening in the world, not Joe Cole being injured - that's nothing.
"I'm getting much better than when I was younger because when I used to get injured I was terrible, but I am stronger mentally to deal with these things.
"At the end of the day I'm 19, doing what I want to do, and not having any worries in the world.
"Just to be injured for a month - you can't let it get you down."
He is delighted that Trevor Sinclair has got into the full England squad and adds:
"Trevor deserves it; he has been doing the right things and training hard.
"Last year before he had the lay off he was playing with an injury, and that is probably why his performances for a spell might not have been up to the high standards that he sets himself.
"It's hard for the fans because if you haven't played football at a high standard you don't know what it's like going out when you are not 100% fit.
"I have always been told if you are not 100% don't go out there because if the supporters see you with your kit they just assume you are 100%.
"But when you see a player that is not firing on all cylinders maybe there is a reason for that; it is because he is carrying a knock."
Despite his discomfort he did go to Everton to support the players on Saturday and says:
"It was a disappointing result - but these things happen in football sometimes.
"We had an under strength side up there with David James out and me and Tomas not playing.
"It was one of those days where everything seems to go wrong and I'm sure we'll bounce back.
"We have plenty of home games to come, lots of opportunities, and there are more than 30 games to go with still eight months left.
"We just have to keep plugging away to get the right results."
He was sympathetic about his hero Paul Gascoigne suffering an early injury in that game, and adds:
"You do feel for him, and I was really looking forward to watching him play as well as the supporting the lads."
Meanwhile it is a case of coping with the boredom, and Joe quips when asked if he would learn a language while at home:
"I was going to - but people will start talking if I did that!
"The French lads at the club all speak really good English; perhaps I could learn Czech so I can speak to Tomas..."
He currently has his foot in traction and is forced to rest, but hopes that the injury which has dogged him all season will finally be cured in the next week or so.
"I did it in the first friendly game, but as we had lots of injuries I was trying to play with it.
"But it just wasn't happening; in the end it got so painful that I've had to take some time off, and luckily it came in the international week.
"I'm just resting up at the moment and it will be ready when it is ready.
"I played every game this season carrying a knock and it was gradually getting worse, so we had to stop otherwise it would have dragged on until Christmas.
"With Fredi coming back from injury it was probably easier for the gaffer, and to be fair he has treated me well, and done everything right by me.
"I wanted to train and play with the lads but you can only do so much; I have to get it right for myself and the good of West Ham.
"I wasn't able to strike the ball properly with my right foot, or dribble, which is the main part of my game - passing and dribbling.
"I tried to adjust and defend more but the pain was getting unbearable and it just hindered me too much.
"Hopefully Blackburn will see me back and as long as everything goes right, touch wood, I should be fine."
Every season of his fledgling professional career has seen him injured, but he says:
"These sort of injuries have gone hand in hand at the start of my career but I'm sure one day they will all clear up.
"They are not serious injuries like a recurrent hamstring, they are just where I have been kicked, and hopefully they will stop and I will go on an injury free run.
"It is a massive hindrance for a player like me, but I wasn't moaning about it at the start of the season, and I'm just trying to explain it to people now.
"I just can't wait to play football again; it does bug me being injured.
"I'm like a bear with a sore head round the house at the moment and you can't really speak to me.
"I try to keep my chin up and keep smiling, and I'm just trying to stay busy.
"Everyone who knows me knows how much I love playing and I'm just excited now for when I do get back."
He does say, however, that the recent events in America, coupled with his own growing maturity, have helped him gain a better sense of proportion about his problems.
"Things like that put it into perspective and that is what is really happening in the world, not Joe Cole being injured - that's nothing.
"I'm getting much better than when I was younger because when I used to get injured I was terrible, but I am stronger mentally to deal with these things.
"At the end of the day I'm 19, doing what I want to do, and not having any worries in the world.
"Just to be injured for a month - you can't let it get you down."
He is delighted that Trevor Sinclair has got into the full England squad and adds:
"Trevor deserves it; he has been doing the right things and training hard.
"Last year before he had the lay off he was playing with an injury, and that is probably why his performances for a spell might not have been up to the high standards that he sets himself.
"It's hard for the fans because if you haven't played football at a high standard you don't know what it's like going out when you are not 100% fit.
"I have always been told if you are not 100% don't go out there because if the supporters see you with your kit they just assume you are 100%.
"But when you see a player that is not firing on all cylinders maybe there is a reason for that; it is because he is carrying a knock."
Despite his discomfort he did go to Everton to support the players on Saturday and says:
"It was a disappointing result - but these things happen in football sometimes.
"We had an under strength side up there with David James out and me and Tomas not playing.
"It was one of those days where everything seems to go wrong and I'm sure we'll bounce back.
"We have plenty of home games to come, lots of opportunities, and there are more than 30 games to go with still eight months left.
"We just have to keep plugging away to get the right results."
He was sympathetic about his hero Paul Gascoigne suffering an early injury in that game, and adds:
"You do feel for him, and I was really looking forward to watching him play as well as the supporting the lads."
Meanwhile it is a case of coping with the boredom, and Joe quips when asked if he would learn a language while at home:
"I was going to - but people will start talking if I did that!
"The French lads at the club all speak really good English; perhaps I could learn Czech so I can speak to Tomas..."