AS FAR as I can see, Joe Cole has come to Anfield for all the right reasons.

He’s fully over the knee injury that has blighted him in recent seasons and has a point to prove.

He just wants to play football now and being Roy Hodgson’s first major signing since he took charge of Liverpool, he’s going to play him.

It’s a good bit of business for the club with funds tight as if the England international was under contract he’d have probably commanded a fee of well over £10million in the transfer market.

I can’t believe that Cole’s other suitors Arsenal or Tottenham weren’t able to offer him the kind of wages he’ll be getting at Anfield – it’s not like he’ll be on ‘megabucks’ in comparative terms, so after having to deal with all the off-the-field politics at Stamford Bridge, I’m sure he’s come purely for footballing reasons.

Having spent his entire career to date in London, it will have obviously been a big decision for Cole to uproot his family from the capital but having played at Anfield for both West Ham and Chelsea many times over the years he’ll know that Liverpool have got a great set of supporters who’ll love him and he’s what I’d call a ‘proper player’.

He’s also a ‘European-kind of player’ too in that he can understand how to operate in a number of attacking midfield roles whether it be on the left or right wing, off the front man or alongside Steven Gerrard – presuming he’s still at Liverpool next season.