Ashley Cole to delay retirement decision until after Derby meet Aston Villa in Championship Play-Off Final

Wembley return: Ashley Cole looks set to start against Aston Villa with Scott Malone suspended
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Ashley Cole will decide whether he will end his glittering playing career after Monday’s Championship Play-off Final with Aston Villa.

The 38-year-old has been with Derby since January and explained back then he expected to retire at the end of the season.

Cole has earned more than 100 England caps and lifted the Champions League, Europa League, League Cup, FA Cup and Premier League during stints with Arsenal and Chelsea.

However, ahead of the Championship Play-off Final, the left-back revealed he is yet to make a definitive decision over his future as he is focused on helping his former team-mate and now Derby manager, Frank Lampard, achieve promotion to the Premier League.

“To be honest I have not really thought about it because at the minute it is not about me,” Cole told RamsTV.

In Pictures | Leeds vs Derby | 15/05/19

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“It is about trying to get Derby County into the Premier League. I have to look at the bigger picture.

“I am lucky enough to play, hopefully, if I make the team. It is unfortunate for Scotty [Malone] to miss out [through suspension], which I am disappointed in. It would have been nice for him to play as well.

“I am happy that I am playing but in terms of me, I don’t know. I am trying not to think about that yet. I just want to try and do my best on the day and get Derby promoted.

“Then I will sit down and think about what I am going to do. I don’t want to try put the focus on me and kind of confuse myself. I know how my body feels, I know what I can bring or what I can’t bring anymore.”

Monday will be Cole’s 35th appearance at Wembley and he has lost only three times there.

It would therefore appear to be the perfect spot for the defender to call it a day, but Cole said: “It would be a great place [to retire], but on the other side it could be a worse place if you lose.

“We know what we are going into [against Villa]. They’re a very, very good team with a good manager and good coaching staff.”

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