No ordinary Joe: Cole has struggled to make an impact at Anfield following his summer arrival on a free transfer
Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole hopes hard work will help change his luck and turn around a disappointing first season for him at his new club.
The 29-year-old moved from Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer but his Reds career got off to the worst possible start when he was sent off in the first match of the season against Arsenal.
Since then he has suffered a number of injuries which have resulted in a stop-start campaign, where his infrequent appearances have mainly come in the Europa League.
He does not look comfortable on the left-hand side of midfield but has to be thankful for the pitch time and got another 90 minutes under his belt in the 1-0 defeat away to Braga in the Europa League last 16 first leg tie last night.
But Cole knows that is not enough and is determined to work out a solution to his difficulties.
The England international said: 'I am just going day by day. I am enjoying my football and I love to go into training with a smile on my face.
'I'm trying to get a run in the side and trying to get back to where I need to be. 'If you work hard you get a bit of luck here and there and I am sure my luck is around the corner.
'This is a cracking club and I really think we are going in the right direction with Kenny Dalglish, Steve Clarke (first-team coach who also worked with Cole at Chelsea) and Damien Comolli (the director of football strategy).'
Cole is one of a number of new arrivals at the club who have so far failed to produce their best form.
The likes of Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanovic have also been restricted to occasional appearances while the much-derided left-back Paul Konchesky lasted five months before he went out on loan to npower Championship club Nottingham Forest.