Ashley Cole has said that he would have loved to have played alongside Hakim Ziyech at Chelsea.
The £33.4m summer signing from Ajax was at his creative best on Saturday afternoon as the Blues came from behind to beat Sheffield United 4-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Ziyech recorded assists for Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva's goals, had a major hand in Tammy Abraham's equaliser and in total created half a dozen chances in a man-of-the-match display.
Should the Morocco international continue in this vein of form, then the likes of Abraham, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, and Christian Pulisic are only going to benefit.
And Cole has highlighted Ziyech's ability to pick out runners as the key quality the midfielder has added to Frank Lampard's squad.
"It's great play on the right-hand side, and when Ziyech gets the ball on his left foot, it begs for runs in behind - he’s such a talented boy," Cole said on Sky Sports.
"Quality with balls in behind.
"If I was playing with Ziyech, I would always be looking to run in behind, because he can pass a ball, this guy.
"When he gets it on his left foot, you’ve got to attack the ball.
"For me, I would’ve loved to play for someone with the quality of Ziyech.
"I had the pleasure of playing with Lampard who used to find me in behind, but as soon as he opens it up on that cultured left foot, I’m running behind."
Ziyech was actually the first summer arrival at Stamford Bridge after the Blues agreed a deal with Ajax shortly after the January transfer window closed.
And whilst the likes of Havertz, Werner, Chilwell had a headstart, he is proving to be Chelsea's best piece of business with each passing game.
Following the international break, the west London outfit face Newcastle United away from home and they are the type of opposition Ziyech could flourish against.
