Carlton Cole and the club's England contingent will learn today whether they have made Fabio Capello's provisional squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.
The 26-year-old striker scored ten goals in 30 appearances this season - nine from open play - despite missing nearly three months of the season with a knee injury. It is felt he is competing for a place in South Africa with the likes of Emile Heskey, Darren Bent and Bobby Zamora, with Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch considered certainties. He has seven caps to his name.
Capello will name 30 players initially, with England's preparations for the 11 June-11 July finals in South Africa beginning with a 24 May friendly at home to Mexico. Reflecting on his domestic campaign, Cole said: "I've not had a bad season. I've had a decent season, but some of my performances since I've come back from injury haven't been up to scratch. Everyone knows that I always try to give 100 per cent."
Cole was presented with the club's Top Goalscorer award sponsored by Kinetics but was also notable in recent matches for a number of assists, including two for Ilan to score vital season-saving goals. "I'm thankful that I got the award but I thought I would be taken over while I was out injured. I thought someone would catch me up on the goal front, but nobody was able to do it. I'm happy that I got the award."