Pochettino told Chelsea loanee is 'the next Ashley Cole'

Cameron Smith

9 Oct 2023 08:26 BST
3 min read

Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has admitted that Chelsea loanee Harvey Vale reminds him of “a young Ashley Cole” after his starring performances at left-back in recent weeks.

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Vale, 19, joined Bristol Rovers on loan this summer and has started the past four games in a slightly unfamiliar left-back role.

The Englishman captained England U19s to European Championship glory last summer and was deployed at left-back during that tournament, but his natural position is higher up the pitch.

Most of Vale’s time in Chelsea’s academy has been spent as either a winger or as an attacking midfielder, but his versatility has also been one of his notable attributes.

Now, he seems to have found a home on the left of Barton’s back four. Despite losing 2-1 against Oxford on Saturday, Vale was excellent.

The Chelsea loanee won five tackles, and completed two key passes and two dribbles as he caught the eye from full-back. His performances in defence have impressed Barton thoroughly.

The former Manchester City, Newcastle and QPR midfielder told BBC Radio Bristol, as per Football.London: “The two games he’s [Vale] played in there [left-back] from the start I think he’s looked like a young Ashley Cole, he looks like he’s played there forever.

“He’s a footballer who is high on football IQ, he’s got a great passing range, he can run, decent in the air.”

Is Vale’s best position at left-back?

Vale has frequently shown his attacking capabilities for Chelsea’s youth teams, but a more restricted role has seemingly aided his development in League One.

The 20-year-old netted three goals and provided four assists in 14 Premier League 2 appearances last season, after his loan move to Hull City was cut short due to a lack of opportunities, and he has already bagged his first Bristol Rovers goal too.

However, Barton clearly views the young Englishman as more of a left-back and that positional change has evidently extracted the best form of Vale’s senior career to date.

Chelsea currently have Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill and Ian Maatsen capable of playing at left-back, so a return to Stamford Bridge in that role does look slightly tricky, however.