The Chelsea duo are now back in the England squad following difficult spells, for different reasons.

Cole - so long touted as the natural answer to the left-sided problem at international level - has seen his progress hampered by injury.

Wright-Phillips, meanwhile, went through a period of some uncertainty when he struggled to hold down a first-team place at Chelsea following his big-money move to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City during the summer of 2005.

Both men, though, would now appear central to the plans of club and country alike.

Wright-Phillips declared: "Joe Cole is an idol for everybody and I am a believer that you can learn from every player you work with.

"To have someone who has been through it is a plus.

"Me and Coley are really good friends and chat about all sorts of things.

"The most important thing is that we enjoy each other's company and there is a tight bond there."

Wright-Phillips looks set to retain his place on the flank for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia at Wembley tomorrow night, having formed an impressive partnership with full-back Micah Richards.

Yet the Chelsea man - step-son to former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright - is happy enough to take whatever comes in his stride.

"I am not really a negative thinker - I always try to think positive," said Wright-Phillips, who has tattoos on his arms which translate as 'love and harmony' and 'family is love.'

"It also comes from my mum, friends and family. There is no point for me in thinking negative.

"If you have nice people around you then you will always be level-headed - even if sometimes when you think things are bad it is not so bad, because you have the right people around you.

"Life has to be a positive thing. You are the only person who can make it happen."

Wright-Phillips added: "I just put my head down and worked hard. That should be the main thing.

"I have never worried about not playing enough. For me I am a great believer that things happen for a reason.

"Obviously while people have said I have not been playing, I have been learning and have had my head down and worked hard."

The England winger added: "It is a challenge for everybody to play consistently at this level.

"The key factor for me is being named in the squad. From then, I have just got to put my head down and work hard."

Richards and Wright-Phillips linked up extremely well down the right, providing a potent, athletic attacking threat on the overlap.

The Chelsea winger has no problems filling in with defensive duties should he find himself tracking back to cover.

"I do not mind tackling," he said.

"If it is going to help the team, I am definitely going to put my foot in there."