Sven puts faith in ace Cole

Joe Cole's sparkling club form has convinced England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to start with the Chelsea star against Northern Ireland in Saturday's World Cup clash.

Eriksson has been impressed by Cole in recent matches and will play the 23-year-old midfield player, probably on the left side of a 4-4-2 formation, at Old Trafford.

Cole made his senior debut in May 2001 against Mexico and was in the England squads for both the World Cup in Japan and South Korea and Euro 2004.

The former West Ham player has largely been overlooked for Eriksson's starting line-ups in competitive matches though, and last began a game in November 2003 - the 3-2 friendly defeat by Denmark.

"I like to stick to those young players who I picked years ago for the first time because I think they have something, and sooner or later they will be mature enough to start a big game for England," Eriksson said.

"Joe Cole can do much more for the national team now than he did in the past. He's much more mature which, for me, has always been the problem. He has taken big risks when he shouldn't have taken them.

"Now he's playing with much more discipline. I talked to him in the past about where to do the tricks and I think he's learned the lesson. That's more Jose Mourinho's work than mine, though."

Cole looks set to play in a four man midfield alongside Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and captain David Beckham, who was declared fit after a scan on a back injury yesterday.

Saturday's Group Six World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland also provides Cole's Chelsea team-mate John Terry with a chance to establish himself as a first choice defender alongside Rio Ferdinand.

Eriksson said: "John should not be worried about proving anything. He does that every week and when he plays for Chelsea in Europe. He will start on Saturday."

Eriksson also hit back at criticism of England's tour to America in May, saying he told the Football Association the tour had to end before the start of June to allow players to rest.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson have said they oppose the trip and would consider making their players stay at home. But Eriksson said: "They should say 'thank you to me'."