Joe Cole is delighted to fall into the arms of a manager who believes in him again.
On the day Chelsea confirmed they have ended Cole's seven-season association with the Stamford Bridge outfit, the 28-year-old vowed not to spill the beans on his annus horribilis until an appropriate point in the future, presumably once England's World Cup campaign is over.
Yet it all seems fairly clear.
One of the most talented players of his generation, good enough to be described as the nearest thing England have to a Brazilian by Wayne Rooney, was a regular for club and country until a major knee injury halted his career in January 2009.
By the time Cole returned to action 10 months later, Carlo Ancelotti was the manager, bringing with him new ideas that did not include a stylish midfielder who made his name as a raw teenager with West Ham.
Although Cole briefly regained his place when a number of team-mates departed for the African Nations Cup, he was soon relegated to the fringes again and then spent virtually until the moment Fabio Capello announced his 30-man provisional squad for South Africa fretting about whether he would make it.
"For the five years before my injury I was more or less a regular for England and all of a sudden people were patting me on the back for getting in a 30-man squad," he reflected.
"I thought I might have run out of time even though I had done all I could.
"I had made a couple of goals against Stoke and then in the final match against Wigan people must have thought I was mad because I was running round chasing balls down to the corner.
"The league was won but I needed to show I was fit.
"What I need in my career is a manager who will give me the feeling that 'you are going to play here', that faith.
"I don't want to talk too much about Chelsea - that is a story for another day - but this season was very difficult for me. I just want to put it behind me."
Cole cannot stop people speculating about his future and already Tottenham, and his old boss Harry Redknapp, have been installed as favourites to acquire his services.
Arsenal and both Manchester clubs are also said to be showing an interest, although Redknapp is the man who probably stands most chance of getting the best out of Cole, who flourished during Jose Mourinho's time at Chelsea.
"Under Mourinho I played more than Arjen Robben, Damien Duff, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Florent Malouda, Adrian Mutu and Eidur Gudjohnsen," said Cole.
"Jose had a lot of faith in me. I played in all the big games.
"Even in the first year I played more than them. I know because I have looked at the stats."
That final revelation shows how irked Cole must have been to find himself on the outside so often in the final weeks of his Chelsea career.
As the realisation dawned that no improvement could be expected, Cole began to adopt a desperate attitude to the minutes on the field that did come his way.
"When you are in certain situations, you feel on trial at times," he said.
"It got to the point where I was coming on for 10 minutes and I had to try and do something.
"But you can't always be trying to impress someone. You have to try and win a game. That is when things happen."
Ultimately, an outstanding second-half cameo against Japan proved decisive and, having claimed a place in Capello's final 23, the Italian's starting line-up beckons given Cole was the only player to complete a full 90 minutes against the Platinum Stars on Monday.
That all came in the left-sided role that will be vacant if Steven Gerrard moves back to partner Frank Lampard in central midfield against the USA this weekend.
"Pulling on an England shirt against Japan after 20 months out was quite special," said Cole.
"I have always taken pride in my England career. I have acquitted myself as well as anyone over the years.
"I love the flow and speed of the game at this level. It suits my game.
"If I get the chance this weekend, I will take it."
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