Lille midfielder Joe Cole has heaped praise on teammate Eden Hazard who continues to be linked with a winter move away from the French club.

Cole, on loan from Liverpool, has compared the 20-year old Belgian to Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney whilst putting him in a different class to most others players.

"Hazard is different class. He's still only 21 [sic] and has definitely got another few gears to go up. He's got the same attitude as Rooney at that age. He's fearless," Cole said to talkSPORT.

"He knows how good he is, and that's a positive thing. All the top players have got that belief and a bit of presence and arrogance, and he's like that.

"He's a bit like Messi. There's only one Messi and I don't want to put pressure on the kid, but he's like him - short, squat, powerful legs, great touch, he can finish, he's got everything."

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