Ray Wilkins has confirmed that Joe Cole will return to the squad for the trip to Hull tomorrow, and is expecting the players to bounce back well from defeat.

We suffered our first loss since April and our first home defeat in 86 league games when Liverpool won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but the assistant first team coach says morale remains high in the camp, with a determination to return to winning ways.

'No one likes being defeated and when you have a group of winners like we have they find it very difficult to take that defeat, so they will be trying doubly hard to make sure the next result is positive,' Wilkins said.

'They are in good spirits, but it is difficult for the lads. Petr Cech has been at the club four seasons and hasn't even lost a home game in the league, it's a phenomenal record, but it's gone. A bit of history has been made but it's in the past and we just have to crack on and see if we can make another one.'

The 52-year-old argued against suggestions that the unbeaten run had become a burden.

'I think a lot of people have said that could be the situation, but when you are playing at home against anybody you actually want to win the game, so the disappointment wasn't the fact the record went but that we lost three points to Liverpool,' he reasoned.

He went on to clarify comments made by manager Luiz Felipe Scolari that the players had not responded well to directions given from the touchline on Sunday.

'I think what Felipe was saying was that we intended to start the second half at a higher pace, but unfortunately Liverpool took that away from us, and started just a touch quicker than we did.

'Felipe wanted the tempo to be raised in the second half and unfortunately that didn't happen for us. Liverpool took that on board and made it difficult for us when the second half started.'

Wilkins also described the scene in the dressing room after the defeat, before voicing his opinion that we will return strongly.

'The atmosphere was morgue-like. They were very, very down, because that's the standards they set themselves and they feel they didn't quite reach that, so they are determined to make sure they bounce back as quick as they possibly can.

'We have to have a positive performance first and I'm sure the results will come after that. The lads are in an extremely positive frame of mind, they are a very strong-willed group and I think that will see us through okay.'

In our opponents Hull City, we face a side high on confidence that have confounded those who predicted a season of struggle.

'It's great to see the work they have done there at Hull. The work ethic is fantastic so we know we are in for one hell of a game. They have been playing exceptionally well, with wins at Arsenal and Tottenham. It's up for us to put ourselves upon Hull and make it a very interesting night for them,' said Wilkins.

'The way they play is with so much energy, and it can be difficult week in week out, but they have amassed 20 points already, so I am sure Phil [Brown] will be looking for the next 20.

'They've demonstrated that they can play, so one defeat is not going to upset them too much, but it is our aim to inflict that if we possibly can.'

Our hopes have been boosted by the return of winger Cole, who has been missing with an ankle injury.

'Joe Cole will come back into the squad for tomorrow night. Obviously Michael Essien is sidelined and Michael Ballack has a way to go, but Didier is back in training so we will keep our fingers crossed we can get him back as soon as we possibly can, but the good news is that Joe will come back into the squad,' reported Wilkins.

'You always miss players of the talent of Joe, because he can play left side, right side, through the middle. He gives us plenty of options.

'Any side misses a player of Joe's calibre, so it is a slight struggle. We worked extremely hard to block that gap up but he gives us something special and it's nice to have that back.'