Capello commends crucial Cole

England coach Fabio Capello has hailed Ashley Cole as "one of the best left-backs in the world" as he prepares to equal a record on Tuesday. Cole will equal Kenny Sansom's 22-year-old record for the most caps won by an England full-back when he makes his 86th international appearance in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro at Wembley.The Chelsea defender made his England debut in March 2001 in a World Cup qualifier against Albania in Tirana.He was struck by a cigarette lighter thrown from the terraces during a 3-1 win.The 29-year-old played in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups and Euro 2004.Cole has never been the most popular player with England supporters but has been a model of consistency for club and country.Capello said: "Ashley Cole is one of the best left-backs in the world. The number of caps he has won is not a surprise to me."Ashley is good in so many ways. He's good when he has to defend. He's really good going forward."He's intelligent and good with his movement. When he has the ball, no problems. He can move."He's good when he has to defend but also good when he gets to the box. He understands how to play a pass."Other players don't know what to do when they get in that position."But Ashley is always dangerous with his passes. He is an important player."Capello is unable to play his preferred team against Montenegro because of injuries to central defender John Terry (back) and striker Darren Bent (groin).It is yet another occasion where the number one centre-back partnership of fit-again skipper Rio Ferdinand and Terry will be unable to play together.But Capello's faith in the duo is still strong even though he is confident Joleon Lescott will do a good job alongside Ferdinand.He said: "I hope they will be fit, because they have had some back problems."I hope they will be fit for the next games. If these two players are fit, they will play together in the future for England."Lescott has played a lot of games at left-back but he did very well against Switzerland (at centre-back). I am sure he will be fine."Bent had been earmarked to start after scoring his first international goal against Switzerland in Basle last month before suffering a groin injury in training on Monday.It means Peter Crouch will be recalled to the first 11 even though Capello admits he is a different type of player to Bent or Jermain Defoe, who is also injured.Capello said: "The style is completely different between Crouch and Bent or Defoe."The other two players, not Crouch, are about movement going forward."Crouch prefers to receive the ball and doesn't have a lot of pace."But we can play different styles. The movement of the other players will be very important."

Source: Team_Talk