Joe Cole returned to first team football with style last night and repaid the fans' chants with an assist in our only goal.

Sitting behind an attacking Fabio Borini and Salomon Kalou, Cole was often instrumental in Chelsea's attacks, showing the fans what they'd been missing with his dribbling skills.

And after watching the Porto game from the bench, Cole relished being back on the pitch at Stamford Bridge: 'I am delighted I was among all the action and I'm just happy to be back playing football to be honest,' he said.

'Being out there when the ball is out of play you take it all in, think "I'm back now" and it's blinding.'

However, despite the successful comeback, our number 10 knows there's still a lot left to do before he's 100 per cent.

'I'm not going to get beyond myself, I know there are going to be lots of ups and downs,' explained Cole after the game.

'I'm very tired but it's great to be back. I know it's a step, I'll keep taking these steps, working hard, 100 per cent everyday in training and hopefully I will be back to the top of my game and beyond as soon as I can.

'I need to get used to doing all the movements, the twisting and turning and getting the confidence back, especially the way I play.

'But I will keep working hard and whether I'm back to my best on Saturday, in a week or two months time, all I can do now is keep working hard in training and try to get back to the best of my ability.'

He may have admitted he wasn't at the top of his game last night, but Cole was back to his goal-assisting ways, setting up Kalou for Chelsea's winner.

It was a move that had Cole's name all over it as he kept possession under pressure to release the Ivorian in the box. Kalou's calmly taken left-footed shot then went in off the far post.

'I'm pleased I helped make the goal, I should have scored myself,' noted Cole, speaking of a chance in the 85th minute when, following a clever one-two with Kalou, he was denied only feet from goal by an on-form Tom Heaton.

The Queens Park Rangers keeper managed to prevent Chelsea finding the net on several occasions but he wasn't the only Hoop having a good game.

'They were very good,' added Cole. 'They have a lot of ability in their team especially in midfield. It was a tough game.

'But we had three players coming back from injury and young players who did exceptionally well. It's important Chelsea bring those young players through.

'They have been great with me, I have been training with the reserves the last few weeks and we have a lot of talented young boys now, so it is great that they're out there getting their chance.'

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