Chelsea hero Joe Cole believes N'Golo Kante is on track to becoming the GREATEST midfielder the club has seen.

After Chelsea's Club World Cup final triumph on Saturday, Cole says Kante already stands alongside Premier League Hall of Fame inductee Frank Lampard.

He said, “Yes I do.

“Also, I think N'Golo now stands shoulder to shoulder with any of the great midfielders at this club. You can put him next to Frank [Lampard], you can put him next to [Claude] Makelele. If he goes on a few more years and achieves more, maybe he surpasses them.

“In terms of influence on the pitch, I don't think there is a more influential midfielder in world football. When he doesn't play it hurts us so much… He's the only player in the squad you take him out it's hard to replace him."