Chelsea star ‘won’t start moaning’ if Everton man is picked ahead of him

Wednesday, February 6, 2013
8:12 AM

Ashley Cole insists he will not walk out on England if and when he surrenders his status as first-choice left-back to Leighton Baines.

Cole, who will become England’s seventh centurion when they face Brazil at Wembley tonight, is coming under intense pressure from Everton star Baines.

But even if some had their way and Baines nabbed the starting berth Cole has become so accustomed to, the 32-year-old would not quit the international scene in search of something better.

“If there comes a time - and there will - when I am not first-choice left-back, it won’t be a problem,” he said.

“I don’t want to go to another World Cup just to be in the record books.

“If Leighton gets picked in front of me, it is going to benefit the team. I won’t start moaning or saying I should be playing. I am not going to quit just because someone is playing better than me or deserves to play.”

Neither will Cole follow Gary Neville’s lead and write his international career off as a waste of time if that longed-for trophy fails to arrive.

“I kind of understand where he is coming from,” said Cole.

“But I am not saying it is a waste of time.

“I would be a little bit sad not winning anything for my country but there are some great teams out there who have never been good enough to get to a final, let alone win one.”