Joe Cole eyes one more medal as Villa prepare for Wembley

Joe Cole has his sights set on adding to his impressive tally of medals and says with his team just two wins away from glory, anything is possible.

Joe Cole

Joe Cole has his sights set on adding to his impressive tally of medals and says with his team just two wins away from glory, anything is possible.

Cole, who lifted the trophy three times during his seven-year stint at Chelsea, is preparing for Aston Villa’s FA Cup semi-final clash against his former club Liverpool on Sunday.

And the midfielder, now 33, says the prospect of adding another medal would mean the world.

"That would be a dream," he told AVFC.co.uk. "It would be a massive achievement. We're in it now – we're two games away.

"We can talk about it and get excited about it. Yes, we still want to secure our future in the Premier League but how can you not get excited?

"After the Champions League, it is the biggest cup competition in the world.

"I'd prefer to win the FA Cup than, for instance, the Europa League. It has more prestige worldwide, in my opinion."

Cole has endured a frustrating debut season at Villa Park.

A recurring hamstring injury has limited his first-team involvement to just 13 appearances.

However he has featured in each of their past three Premier League outings – against Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur.

With 56 England caps to his name, and numerous Wembley appearances under his belt, Cole's experience on the big stage could still prove pivotal for Tim Sherwood’s men.

Despite lifting the trophy under the arch on three occasions, the London-born midfielder still considers his earliest experience his most memorable.

"I played at the old Wembley for England Schoolboys, so that's my favourite moment," he said.

"It's a massive moment for any 15-year-old schoolboy to play at Wembley. But for any player at any age and any level, it is a pleasure to play there.

"Not just the stature of the place but the history that is there too. I love it there.

"I've played in a few games there – cup finals, semi-finals and a few games for England.

"The majority of my England career was at the time when we played on the road, so only one of my England goals was at Wembley.

"But I'd love to play there again."

And what of the Villans’ chances against seven-time FA Cup winners Liverpool?

Cole admits his side are underdogs, but insists they will go into the game brimming with confidence.

"These games are about being mentally prepared," he added.

"It does sap your energy – it is not like a normal game because of the build-up and everything.

"It is a special game, so you've got to be clever. But it is nothing to be afraid of.

"The boys will relish it, I know they will."