http://www.chelseafc.com/Player.asp?plid=12799

PLAYER PROFILES

Carlton Cole


     The England Under 21 international has been challenged by Jose
Mourinho to show he has what it takes to be a striker in today's Chelsea
squad and to date, Carlton's finest moments in top flight football have
all been in a blue shirt.


     There was much optimism for the fledging striker when he made his full
first team debut in April 2002 having already scored 37 goals in youth and
reserve football that season.


     He responded with a good goal scored with his head, not previously
identified as a strength, and then showed what he could do with the ball at
his feet on the next season's opening day with a solo strike at Charlton.


     A Christmas 2002 loan to First Division Wolves earned promising
reviews before Carlton came into his own by turning match-winner during the
run-in to Chelsea's vital qualification for the Champions League at the
end of the 2002/3 season.


     Strangely, he was dropped by manager Claudio Ranieri for the closing
four games and the following season embarked on an unhappy and injury hit
year loan at Charlton where he scored five goals in 22 games.


     A second season-long loan at Aston Villa started brightly with two
goals in the opening four games but the goals dried up, only one more added
in a total of 30 games.


     Carlton has proved more prolific at Under 21 international level where
he scored four times in his first nine games and is a regular choice. Tall
but with wonderful balance plus strength, a slippery turn of pace and the
ability to ghost past defenders, at his best Carlton can be a danger from
anywhere approaching the opponents' goal.


     The 2005/6 season is key to his future career and managerial reports
from his first months under Mourinho have been positive.