Joe Cole wowed by what ‘outstanding’ 27-year-old Tottenham player did for his country last night

Add as preferred source on Google

Former Premier League star Joe Cole was left seriously impressed with one Tottenham Hotspur player last night.

The pundit was in attendance for the England vs Belgium game at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday night where Gareth Southgate’s men drew 2-2.

But it is what one of Ange Postecoglou’s men were able to do that seriously impressed the former Chelsea winger.

What Joe Cole said about James Maddison

It was a fairly disappointing international break for the 27-year-old having played just 26 minutes across England’s two games.

Having started neither, James Maddison came on as England chased the game on Tuesday night.

And it did not take the Spurs star too long to provide an impact as he provided a neat assist for Jude Bellingham’s equaliser.

Speaking on Channel 4 after the game, Cole shared his thoughts on the assist provided by Maddison in the dying seconds of the game.

He said: “But then it’s a bit of quality from Maddison. That ball there… outstanding. And when it drops to Jude Bellingham, you knew it was going to be a goal.”

What Jude Bellingham commented on Maddison’s assist

There are a couple of ways to look at Maddison’s lack of game time: one being he will return to Spurs with no injuries and fresh legs for the game on the weekend against Luton Town.

However, it also has to be questioned what Southgate was thinking leaving a player of his quality out of the starting XI.

England were missing some big players like Harry Kane who provide that attacking threat. So leaving a creator like Maddison out does feel strange.

And it is apparent the Spurs midfielder has formed a close bond with Bellingham with the pair calling themselves the ‘sheriffs’.

The running joke between the two was there for all to see after the game after Bellingham posted, ‘Cheers Sheriff’ on his Instagram story with a photo of the pair.

It is probably fair to say Ange Postecoglou hasn’t quite seen the same Maddison since he returned from his injury earlier in the year.

He did net against Aston Villa the other week, but it has been a gradual road back to full fitness for the 27-year-old.

However, there is an important game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday where Maddison will surely be going into it full of confidence.

He is not the only one going into the game on a high after Heung-min Son scored again for South Korea yesterday as he now makes his return back to Hotspur Way.