The former England left-back will step into the studio this week
Ashley Cole will appear on Monday Night Football as a pundit this week, for Liverpool’s clash against West Ham United at the London Stadium.
He will be the latest addition to a long list of high profile players, either recently retired or close to retirement, who have appeared on Sky’s flagship football show. Yaya Touré was a recent guest, and the former Manchester City midfielder picked an absurdly attacking XI comprising his former teammates.
Cole, in Gary Neville’s absence, will join Jamie Carragher in the studio to pour over Liverpool’s midweek draw against Leicester City, which left the Reds five points clear at the top of the table.
Cole recently sealed a move to Derby County, where he reunited with former Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard, who is leading the Ram’s charge for a play-off place in his first managerial job.
Now 38, it will likely be Cole’s last ever stint in club football, wrapping up an illustrious career that saw him win multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups and one Champions League.
As always with special guests on MNF, Cole will face questions from viewers about his career as a footballer. You’d suspect they will centre around England’s ‘golden generation’ failing to win a trophy and his controversial move from Arsenal to Chelsea.
Both Neville and Carragher have exceeded their playing ability in the world of punditry, but Cole will face a tough task in following suit, having been one of the best players in his position of his generation.
The left-back is yet to make an appearance for Derby, with his last competitive appearance coming in October for the LA Galaxy, before his contract with the MLS team expired.
It’s likely that he is still building up his match sharpness before Lampard gives him a start, but his experience will still be aiding a young squad in the dressing room.
