Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole posts encouraging Instagram snap as he bounces back from kidney scare

ANDY COLE has taken to Instagram to show off his incredible recovery from a serious kidney illness.

The former Manchester United forward, 44, pulled out of a charity game last November, revealing he was suffering from a form of kidney failure – diagnosed all the way back in June 2015.

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On the illness, Cole said: “In June of this year I suffered kidney failure, caused as a result of contracting an airborne virus and I have been under medical care ever since.

“I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with a condition called Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.”

The illness left Cole looking bloated due to water retention, with 15-cap England forward revealing in February this year he was subjected to vile taunts about his weight.

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On his sickness, Cole said: “I wouldn’t tell a soul.

“You’re getting all these comments ‘Andy Cole, he’s put on all this weight’, ‘who ate all the pies?’ and all that kind of stuff.

“The weight you’ve put on through the water retention, that wreaks havoc with your head because you’re saying to yourself ‘I don’t want to look in the mirror any more’ because you’re not the same.

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“You don’t feel the same, you don’t feel as confident about yourself as you used to, but then it’s out of your hands.”

After months of treatment Cole appears to back to full health, even posting an image on Instagram showing off his incredible recovery alongside personal trainer Tiago Moura at Vale Do Lobo, a luxurious resort in Portugal.

Cole captioned the image: “Thank you to Thiago my PT @vale.do.lobo.

“Been hard but good. The road to recovery.”

Meanwhile, trainer Moura said: “Hi @andycole09 it was a pleasure training with you.

“Not everyday that I train one of the legends of Man U.

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“Hope to see you soon. All the best my friend.”

During his distinguished career, Cole netted a superb 271 times in 624 appearances, including 121 strikes in just 275 games for Manchester United.

He comprised one half of the formidable Cole-Dwight Yorke front-line under Sir Alex Ferguson, helping United to five Premier League titles in the process, along with their famous 1999 Champions League triumph.