Chelsea icons Joe Cole and Glenn Hoddle have heaped praise on Kepa Arrizabalaga for reviving his career this season.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea's UEFA Champions League win against RB Salzburg, Cole praised Kepa for showing 'resilience' to regain his starting spot in the team.

Speaking on BT Sport's coverage of the game, Cole said: "We said the manager deserves credit, he deserves credit, he's showed resilience.

"You have to remember this is Chelsea's record signing, the next Cech, the next Courtois and it didn't work for him. He's come out of the team, he was actively open to leaving the club but he's knuckled down and he's the perfect example for young goalkeepers and players that you can rebuild yourself.

"When your goalkeeper is making saves like that it gives you belief, you don't want your goalkeeper to be making mistakes but you know when it goes wrong he's going to be wrong. That's what they're there for and he's been fantastic."

Fellow pundit Hoddle agreed with Cole in his assessment of Kepa and lauded the Spaniard's 'mental strength' after taking his chance under Graham Potter. Hoddle said: "He's shown such fantastic mental strength, he's had to be patient, been given his chance and he's taken it with both hands excuse the pun.

"There will come a time when he makes a mistake and it ends up in the back of the net - that is when he's going to have his major, major test. That will be the one we're waiting for, not that we're waiting for it to happen but goalkeeper's make mistakes but that's when we'll see a strength of mind - which we've seen already - it's incredible."