Ashley Cole tips Tino Livramento for ‘beautiful future' after Newcastle star shines for England U21s

Scottish Sun

18 hours ago

TINO LIVRAMENTO will have a 'beautiful future' for club and country, says England's greatest left-back Ashley Cole.
The Newcastle star is aiming to cap off a campaign that saw him lift the Carabao Cup and qualify for the Champions League by becoming a European champion.
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Tino Livramento produced a man of the match display in England U21s' win over Czech Republic
Credit: Getty
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Ashley Cole believes the star has a 'beautiful future' ahead of him with the Three Lions
Credit: Getty
Versatile Livramento has excelled at both right and left-back for the Magpies and was man of the match at the latter in the U21s' 3-1 Euro opening victory over Czech Republic on Thursday.
Left-back has proven to be a problem position for England's seniors of late with eight players used there over the past year.
Arsenal and Chelsea legend Cole won 107 caps for his country and is now Lee Carsley's U21s assistant manager.
And he thinks England, who face Slovenia on Sunday in their second Group B clash, have struck gold with Livramento.
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Cole, 44, said: 'I had the fortune to be around him when he was at Chelsea. He was in the 21s in the reserve group. You always see the passion and level he could get to. But of course, there's only a certain level of information we can give him.
'It's down to the players to take on that information, absorb it, and want to learn and listen and develop and get better. He's certainly one of them players.
'Him getting the opportunity at Newcastle and continuing to play first in football gave him the belief, the confidence in his own ability. And, of course, a manager that's trusted him to play at such a young age. He's developing into a top player.'
Three-time Premier League and 2012 Champions League winner Cole continued: 'My job is to try and give all my experiences to every single player.
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'You do favour certain players and certain attitudes. He's got a great attitude. He's a great person, always willing to listen.
'I try not to compare myself to these guys. The information and detail I give is, we're a different stature. We have a different style of play. And it's just trying to give him the basics of how to defend all areas of the pitch, and see how he develops.'
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Ashley Cole and Tino Livramento in action at England training
Credit: Getty
Cole, who admits some of the magic is not there anymore, takes a hands-on approach to coaching.
And after sharing a pitch with Livramento and working with him up close, he insists that the sky is the limit for the Toon ace.
He said: 'I can't move anymore. My ankle is gone. I was probably the worst player last week when I joined in.
'I try to give that little bit of knowledge as I'm playing. I can't run anymore, so it's more of a gob – which I've calmed down a bit! – but it's still there. I try to give as much as I can.
'As coach, you stand on the sideline and see how much information he takes on and takes on board. And I keep saying it, but the willingness to want to learn and be the best, is always a great trait to have.
I try not to compare myself to these guys. We have a different style of play. And it's just trying to give him the basics of how to defend all areas of the pitch, and see how he develops.
Ashley Cole on Tino Livramento
'Whatever level he wants to get to, he can get to because he's got that personality and desire.
'He's got a beautiful future, a bright future. Long may it continue that he keeps playing for Newcastle, keeps gaining experience and keeps his levels up.'
Eyebrows were raised when Thomas Tuchel left Livramento, who won his first senior cap in November, out of his latest squad in order for him to come to the Euros.
But the ex-Southampton ace revealed a conversation he had with the German about being a leader for the U21s in Slovakia and he says he is loving soaking up all the knowledge from his hero Cole.
Livramento said: 'Thomas spoke to me about the senior squad and said that he wanted to speak to Lee as well about giving me that role.
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'I've never played a tournament for England and any age group. I've always missed it through injuries. That's a big thing for me, coming here and getting this experience and playing with loads of boys that I've come through the age groups with.
'Ashley gets involved in the sessions. Even just watching him, he's still at the highest level of the way he communicates with all the boys. As a coach he's a bit more laid back.
'He sees things, he lets you train and he might pull you to the side after and do a little bit of one-to-one work.
'Obviously as a Chelsea fan when I was younger seeing him and stuff like that is a big thing for me to learn.'