Joe Cole has told talkSPORT he ‘knew within ten minutes’ of watching Mason Mount train he was going to be a ‘special, special player’.
The former Blue says the 22-year-old England ace ‘has got everything’ and can become one of the best players in the London club’s history.
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Mount is one of the country’s most exciting young talents but has had his share of doubters throughout the early years of his career.
The youngster has had to battle claims of favouritism with his ex-Derby and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard and claims he shouldn’t be in the Chelsea and England team.
But he has silenced his critics this season, especially since Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as he has remained one of the Blues’ top players – proving Chelsea legend Lampard made a brilliant move by installing him in Chelsea’s first team following his impressive loan spell with the Rams.
It’s surprising to remember Mount, who has eight goals and seven assists this season, was playing Championship football two years ago.
Now he’s one of the first names on the team sheet for Chelsea and has been tipped to start for England at Euro 2020 this summer, too.
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Getty Images - Getty
Cole was asked about Mount’s brilliant rise on Friday’s talkSPORT Breakfast, and he told Trevor Sinclair how he was wowed by the youngster when he trained with him a few years ago.
“I’ve been so impressed with him, Trev,” said the ex-Chelsea and England winger.
“I trained with him at the back end of my career. When I was coming back from America to keep myself fit I trained with Mason and I knew from the first ten minutes of the session he would be was a special, special player.
“I couldn’t understand it for the life of me why people weren’t singing his praises.
“He’s a young man and he’s ended up captaining Chelsea this year, he’s playing regularly, he’s scoring goals now.
“He’s a top, top player and I think he can go all the way.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but I think he’ll be one of the top players in Chelsea’s history, if he stays there.
“I think he’s that good, Trev, he’s got everything.”
Mount’s form means Gareth Southgate will likely be scratching his head with so many strong options across his midfield ahead of this summer’s European Championship.
Cole also praised Man City’s Phil Foden after he helped Manchester City progress to the Champions League semi-finals this week, as well as 17-year-old Jude Bellingham who raised eyebrows with a glittering display for Borussia Dortmund despite their defeat to Pep Guardiola’s men.
And the former England man says the young talent coming through into the senior Three Lions team now is better than the famed ‘Golden Generation’ he was part of.
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“I’m a massive fan of Phil Foden and I haven’t seen enough of Bellingham, but what I saw the other night [against Manchester City in the Champions League] it blew me away,” added the ex-Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool ace.
“What he was doing in that game, playing against arguably the best side in Europe…
“And for Gareth… I personally, and I’ve said it for a while now, I don’t think England have had as talented a squad as we have now for many, many years, including my generation.
“I think these boys are coming through out of a system that has started to work, and credit to the academies, the FA and everyone who is coaching these players.
“My boys are playing football now and I watch the talent at a young, young age across the board, and it’s no surprise we’re producing, I think, the best young players in world football.
“It’s exciting times for us.”
talkSPORT
Cole’s praise for England’s youngsters comes amid claims he should be the next England Under-21s manager.
Shortly after Cole joined talkSPORT on Friday morning, it was confirmed Aidy Boothroyd will step down as head coach of the Young Lions after their embarrassing performance at the recent U21 Euros.
And, speaking later on in the show, Sinclair said Cole would be a great fit for the role.
“I’d like to see Joe Cole,” said the ex-England ace.
“I just feel someone like that would have a good affiliation with the players.
“He was a child prodigy, I always used to call him the conjurer, he was so talented.
“You need to have someone in there who’s going to have a good relationship with the players who’s going to be able to inspire them.”
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