Chezza Cole has agreed to attend counselling sessions with estranged husband Ashley.

Despite rumours that the star was intent on divorcing the footballer – refusing to take his calls, the Girls Aloud singer it seems, has had a change of heart.

A source revealed to the Daily Mail newspaper that the X Factor judge has given in following a series of phone calls and text messages from the footballer, aided by ’Team Ashley’ – which includes his mother Sue, some of his Chelsea colleagues and even, the source says, team owner Roman Abramovich.

The source continued to say that Chezza, 26, has started to believe she is also at fault for the breakdown of their three-and-a-half-year marriage – seeing Ashley as a ‘victim’ rather than a ‘serial love cheat’.

The first counselling session will take place as early as next week, after the footballer returns from a sports rehab clinic in France where he is being treated for a broken ankle. The sessions are likely to take place at their Surrey home.

A friend of the couple last night told the Daily Mail: “Cheryl has agreed to see a counsellor with Ashley to hear his issues. She think he deserves to be heard and understands how he could think that she let him down as a wife.”

The friend continued to say: “In essence, she is starting to accept his claim that it is not solely his fault their marriage collapsed.”

According to other sources, the singer feels Ashley  ’is not a cad  –  but more a victim of circumstance - he’s vulnerable, immature and easy prey for predatory women. Of course Cheryl is devastated and furious at what he’s done. But she accepts she owes it to their marriage to talk it through with him.’

Cole is rumoured to have cheated on Chezza with four women during their marriage – telling reporters this week that as a result of his behaviour, his ‘life had been ruined’.