The sad star, who took pains to cover up a cold sore as she arrived back in Britain yesterday, has not ruled out a dramatic reconciliation with the other distressing blemish in her life.

Beardless: Ashley yesterday

The News of the World can reveal she is plotting a secret meeting with Ashley, 29, and has STILL not consulted divorce lawyers.

And the England ace - who has been begging her to forgive him in calls and texts since they split nearly two weeks ago - even believes they'll be reconciled before the World Cup in June.

Pals are worried that Cheryl, 26, who looked close to tears as she landed at Heathrow after performing on the Danish version of X Factor, feels increasingly lost without her husband.

One revealed: "It's a case of the initial anger fading and the sadness and loneliness setting in.

"She's insistent this is only a trial separation and is carefully considering if there's a way she can move the relationship forward."

On Friday night, the heartbroken beauty had put on a brave face in Copenhagen and had even told the X Factor audience: "If there's a party, I'll be there."

But the depth of her despair was clear, and after performing hit single Fight For This Love, she headed straight back to her hotel room until the morning.

Ashley, 29, was meanwhile said to be "feeling better" after jetting his MUM out to the French clinic where he is racing to recover from a broken ankle.

Sue Cole, 52, was said to have rushed to see her son after seeing pictures of him unshaven and unkempt. But her visit seems to have lifted his spirits, and he was yesterday seen without his beard.

A source said: "Ashley was in a state. His mum did what any parent would do and went to him. He now knows he's not alone."

But he may not feel better for long, as last night Cheryl's close friend Brian Friedman revealed he was itching to play matchmaker for his lonely pal.

In a clear swipe at Ashley, the X Factor creative director told the News of the World: "She deserves a great guy. Hopefully she'll find him. I don't know Ashley well. I only see him every once in a while at the show, but Cheryl's my friend. So I have her back.

"When news came out about me moving her to LA, I've been getting non-stop contact from top guys in this city asking me to set them up with Cheryl."

"When - or actually if - she is ever ready to date someone, of course I will hook her up."

Worse still, randy dancer Derek Hough was last week said to be upping the ante to try and win Cheryl's heart.

A close friend of the US star, seen out with the singer during her stay in LA last week, told us: "He's not used to women saying no to him and plans to use all his charms to win her round."

Cher all with Piers

CHERYL Cole is set to reveal the full story of her split with Ashley to Piers Morgan.

The X Factor judge is expected to a do one-hour ITV1 special in May where she will talk in detail for the first time about how the England defender cheated on her.

Cheryl had already agreed to do an interview with Morgan BEFORE her split with Ashley, after he pitched the idea to her when they met at the National TV Awards in January.

A source said: "She knows that Piers will handle it well. She feels safe in his hands.

"And she knows that if it is on TV, people can hear it from her direct in her own words."

Cheryl will perform new single Parachutes on Jonathan Ross's BBC1 show on Friday, but will not be interviewed.