Joe Cole says Tottenham 26-year-old he played with as good as Eden Hazard

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Joe Cole has lauded Tottenham Hotspur summer signing James Maddison and how he has the ‘full package’. 

The former Chelsea star played alongside James Maddison when he was coming through as a teenager at Coventry City, and Joe Cole added that he is ‘one of the best young players’ he has worked with by comparing him with Eden Hazard, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish.

Joe Cole himself was one of the highly-rated youngsters, not just in England, but in Europe, when he was coming through as a kid, so he understands what it’s like having that cloud and pressure over your head.

But he feels Tottenham’s man in the middle, who suffered an injury during his side’s 4-1 defeat to Chelsea on Monday night, is an ‘outstanding’ player, as he told Premier League Productions (06/11/23 at 7:35 pm).

That has been proven by the start the 26-year-old has made at Spurs because, after 11 Premier League games, he has three goals and five assists to his name.

James Maddison is a big reason why Spurs and Ange Postecoglou are sitting second in the Premier League table, with Joe Cole raving about a player he first saw in the colours of Coventry many, many years ago.

James Maddison and Eden Hazard

“The only thing I thought could stop him (as a youngster) would be injuries because he had the full package,” said Cole. “He could do it. I just questioned whether he could stay fit and physically cope. But I think he has taken that on now. I really do.

“I wouldn’t say I taught him anything. In the early days, he made bad decisions. I loved it when he gave the eyes, but sometimes, he would do it in the wrong area. What he was surprised with was the intensity I played with off the ball. 

“Football would have been easy for him at 18. He was the best player in League One. He was outstanding. He worked hard. But there was an intensity. As the months went on, towards the end of the season, he became our best player. Then he went to Norwich, and the intensity of his game picked up. I think he is a leader.

“To have four caps for England at the age of 25 and 26 simply isn’t good enough – I really think he is one of the best young players I have worked with and I have worked with Eden Hazard, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish. He is right up there with them names. He is a top, top player.”

James Maddison’s injury

The England International hobbled off against Chelsea in what was a night to forget for everyone associated with Spurs.

Everything that went wrong for Ange Postecoglou’s side did go wrong, and some more, with Maddison getting injured alongside centre-back Micky van de Ven.

It seems as though the Dutchman will certainly face a lengthy spell on the sidelines, as fans will hope that Maddison’s is far better.

The positive is that he did walk off the pitch and it might have just been a case of Spurs playing it safe because, at the time, the team was down to ten men.