‘Capable of doing the same’: Joe Cole believes Chelsea player can control his country’s midfield like £60m star

Add as preferred source on Google

Joe Cole trusts Mason Mount and James Maddison to take the reigns in England’s midfield at the World Cup.

Writing for the Telegraph, Cole dissected the importance of the Chelsea and Leicester City duo at the tournament in Qatar.

Both Mount and Maddison made Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad, with the latter a surprise but welcome addition to the camp.

The pair will probably be fighting for the same attacking role in the side, a position that the Three Lions have lacked in recent competitions.

In the creative pairing, England have the tools to unlock teams and play in tight spaces.

Southgate’s often safe approach suggests that only one will be able to start in the XI.

But Cole insisted that Mount and Maddison will have an equal part to play for England.

“I am delighted Maddison is in the squad. He is not the only player at Gareth Southgate’s disposal who can run our midfield – I believe Mason Mount is capable of doing the same – but Maddison gives his manager an excellent alternative,” said the former Chelsea forward.

“I see the pair of them fulfilling the same role in Qatar. One starting and the other finishing games and sharing the burden of the intensity of tournament football.”

Mount or Maddison?

If Southgate were to select his 11 based purely on form, Maddison would walk in ahead of Mount.

Leicester’s ingenious attacking midfielder has already contributed ten goals in the Premier League this season.

Last term, he provided 30 in total for the Foxes.

He is arguably the most valuable Englishmen across the land right now, making his reported £60m transfer value rather accurate.

Meanwhile, Mount has slightly stalled after another fine campaign for Chelsea.

Yet, six assists this term prove his resourcefulness has not sapped away.

Will Southgate select one, both or neither for England’s opener against Iran? The answer is just days away now.