Andy Cole set to join Sol Macc Town

Legendary Manchester United footballer Andy Cole is all set to link up with former England team-mate Sol Campbell at Macclesfield Town.

Cole, 47, will become the club’s new strikers coach this week to help the Silkmen stay in the Football League. The former United great, who has battled a serious kidney condition since retiring, plans to work two days a week and improve Macclesfield’s finishing.

The Silkmen are currently in the League Two relegation zone despite better recent form under Campbell, and are the division’s joint-lowest scorers with 25 goals from 28 games.

Cole scored 290 goals in a distinguished career with 13 different clubs. He is best-known for winning the 1999 treble with United and is the third-highest Premier League scorer of all-time, his tally of 187 bettered only by Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney. He also played for Arsenal, Newcastle, Manchester City and Portsmouth. Since hanging up his boots in 2008, he has suffered from health issues and underwent a life-saving kidney transplant in 2017.

Cole won several of his 15 England caps alongside Campbell and his arrival gives Macclesfield extra momentum in their fight for survival.

Since Campbell was appointed manager at the end of November, the club have collected 11 points from eight games and climbed off the foot of the table. They have a key clash at home to Oldham on Saturday.