Joe Cole: Last Chance To Resurrect Career at Liverpool, Remain Big-Club Player

Liverpool's signing of Joe Cole was reported to be the coup of the transfer window at the beginning of the season and the media expected a lot from the duo of Hodgson and Cole.

Seven months on, the manager who signed him is gone after a series of disappointing results and Joe Cole has failed to make an impression at Liverpool.

Cole was considered to be a child prodigy at the famed West Ham Academy.

Even Sir Alex had taken note and had offered £10m for the 16-year old Cole to West Ham, a considerable sum 12 years ago. West Ham decided to hold on to their prized possession and Cole made his first team debut for the club at the tender age of 17. By 21 years of age, he had been handed the captain's armband.

However, he could not stop West Ham from getting relegated in 2003. By that time, the 22-year old had already amassed over 100 appearances for the club. As a result of the club's relegation, he made a move to fellow London club, Chelsea.

Though his preferred position was in the hole behind the striker, he was made to play as a wide left-sided midfielder in the famous diamond formation at Chelsea.

Cole earned a name for himself at Chelsea, though in the last few years, his career has been hampered by a number of injuries.

With his contract due to expire in 2010 and Chelsea unwilling to give in to his wage demands, he was available on a free in the summer. Heavily linked with a move to Spurs, where he could team up with Redknapp again, Cole surprised everyone by signing for Liverpool.

He made the worst possible start to his Liverpool career by getting sent off in his first league match against Liverpool, an ominous start for a player who had never been red-carded in his career before that.

Hodgson primarily deployed Cole wide on the left, a role which he was expected to play well as he had done at Chelsea.

However, at Chelsea he was helped a great deal by the presence of players like Ashley Cole who were always present to support his runs out wide.

Cole, not being a natural at the position generally had a tendency to drift in. Liverpool also lacked a quality left-back to support Cole's runs on the left wing. Hence, he was not being able to ideally fulfill his role.

Injuries at crucial times in the campaign did not help his cause either. This, coupled with his apparent loss in form, meant that Cole could not make too many appearances for the reds.

However, with a new regime at Anfield, Cole would want to get an opportunity to prove that he still has the ability to make an impact. With Meireles achieving the same under Kenny, there is no reason that Cole cannot do the same.

The appointment of Steve Clarke as the first-team coach, a person who had worked with Cole during his time at Chelsea should help in that regard.

Clarke has said that Liverpool will soon see the "real Joe Cole"' which just shows that he has not given up on the player and how highly he rates the gifted midfielder.

Though, with Liverpool undergoing a rebuilding process, the new owners might be looking at unloading some players, whom they think are surplus to their requirements.

With clubs like Newcastle already showing interest, it might not be unrealistic that he is sold in the summer. At 29-years of age, such a move might signal the end of Cole's ambition to play at a big club as not many big clubs buy players over 30 years of age.

With only 12 league games and a handful of Europa League games remaining in the season, time is running out for Cole to prove to the manager as well as the Kop faithfuls that he still has something to offer to the club.

If Cole is able to reignite his Liverpool career, a midfield consisting of Gerrard, Meireles, Cole and Lucas to support Carroll and Suarez upfront might just make Liverpool a very formidable attacking force.