By Telegraph staff 11:13AM GMT 27 Feb 2011
England defender Cole apparently turned up at Chelsea's Cobham training ground holding the weapon, complete with a muzzle and nightscope, and accidentally discharged the gun from a distance of 5ft.
Tom Cowan, a Loughborough University sports science student on a year's work placement with Chelsea was in the dressing room last Sunday when the incident happened.
Medical staff at the state-of-the art facility tended to Cowan's wounds and he was given two days leave to recover from the shock.
A dozen or so staff and, it is believed, a number of the first team squad, witnessed the drama.
"Tom was sent home with swabs, lots of pads, dressing and gauzes," a source told the News of the World. "But 48 hours later the wound was still weeping and needed further treatment."
On Wednesday, Cowan was called into a meeting with "deeply worried" Chelsea officials in order to discuss the incident.
The News of the World claims that Cole did not know the .22 air rifle was loaded when he fired at the 21 year-old.
"We never comment on internal matters," Chelsea said in response to the report.
This is the second time in less than two years that Cobham has been involved in controversy.
In December 2009, Chelsea captain John Terry was caught charging £10,000 in cash to secure behind-the-scenes tours for various individuals without manager Carlo Ancelotti's permission.
Terry later claimed the proceeds had been given to charity.
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Why do you take an air rifle to practice?