Joe Cole has told talkSPORT this morning that Ashley Cole fully deserves to captain England against the Republic of Ireland and that Andy Carroll will be making a mistake if he turns down the chance to join West Ham permanently.
He told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: ?What a servant Cole has been for his country. To get 100 caps for any country is amazing but for England, with the competition he has had to fend off over the last yen years, is phenomenal.
?It’s great for him to have his night. He?s an easy target because he doesn?t enjoy the media side of the game, he just wants to turn up, play his football and go home. I?m pleased for him. He deserves it [to captain England].
?I was lucky enough play on the left side for England many times with him behind me. It?s a dream. You see him coming up in your wing mirrors, overlapping you every time, giving you options, and the one?thing about Ashley is he never moans about not getting the ball which was great for me. And his quality in the final third is brilliant.
?A lot of people forget he started out as a striker at Arsenal. I remember playing against him as a kid and he was a brilliant striker as well. He?s just a great player.
?Anyone you speak to who has met him will say he is a top man. He’s one of the nicest men I’ve met in football. Because of what people read they may feel differently but he is a true gent.?
On Andy Carroll joining West Ham permanently, Cole said: ?We play to suit him, we play around him. We try and get good quality balls into the box for him to head and that is going to be valuable. If I was him, I would be wanting to stay at West Ham.
?The lads love him and the fans have taken to him. If he keeps himself fit he can get 20-30 goals next season and really kick on.?
?Alice Furse (talksports)
