A serious knee ligament injury suffered in January 2009 put Cole on the sidelines for nine months and helped curtail him to just 28 Premier League starts during the last two seasons.

Cole can expect far greater exposure this season and is desperate to atone for the frustration of recent campaigns.

“Last year was tough,” he says. “I was trying to get my match fitness back and prove I should be starting, maybe trying too hard, but it just wasn’t happening.

“But I still made an impact and still proud of the part I played in a difficult season. Now this is a fresh start. I just need match fitness but my body is strong.

“The important thing is getting the back to back games and just playing regularly. The last time I played 90 minutes was February and I need to be able to do that week in week out, and I will do that.

“Roy made it very clear he wanted me as a player and what he wanted from me. All I need is time and patience.”

Cole’s patience was severely tested during the England’s recent shambolic World Cup campaign in South Africa, where his contribution was limited to just 44 minutes as a substitute.

And the player is now determined to make up for lost time, while promising he is fully committed to a new life in the North West.

“I’d prefer to put the World Cup to bed,” says Cole. “We’ll talk about England in the future. It’s always a follow on from your bread and butter, which is your club. I had to choose the right one, which I have, and now it’s down to me to get as fit as I can – which is bloody hard work.

“I don’t want to come up here and end up going back south every day off. I want to immerse myself in the place.

“Someone once gave me the advice that when you move, you should always make sure you are part of the club. It’s a big challenge for me, but I will do that here.”