Premiership: Cole needs time - Souness

Blackburn boss Graeme Souness tonight insisted £7.5million signing Andy Cole needed another four games to get back to his goal-scoring best.

Cole made a frustrating debut this afternoon in Blackburn’s 1-0 defeat by Tottenham at White Hart Lane in which Dean Richards’ first-half header claimed the points.

The former Manchester United striker missed a couple of clear-cut chances, including a complete mis-kick in front of goal, and brought one excellent late save from Spurs goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

But Souness was happy with the contribution of the striker he believes can save Blackburn, with just one win from their last nine games and just three points above the drop zone, from sliding into relegation trouble.

‘‘Robbie Fowler wasn’t match fit when he moved to Leeds from Liverpool because he hadn’t been in the first team,’’ said Souness. ‘‘Andy Cole is in a similar situation. He has not been playing regular football.

‘‘He will need four or five games to be as sharp as he wants to be. He hadn’t worked with the other players or his strike partner Matt Jansen because the weather in the north has been so bad.

‘‘It will take a little time but he has proved over the last 10 years he is as good as anyone. Andy wants to play football and score goals and that’s what he’ll do for us. We were unlucky today but that is the story of our festive season.’’

Souness received support for Cole from rival manager Glenn Hoddle, who as England manager left Cole out of his France ’98 World Cup squad after criticising him for needing too many chances to score.

‘‘Matt Jansen and Andy Cole are both very good players,’’ said Hoddle. ‘‘It’s always difficult for someone coming in their first game when they haven’t had time to work. But I’m sure Andy Cole is going to score many, many goals for Blackburn.

‘‘Today was difficult. You need to have a partner and work with midfield players to get the understanding. He hasn’t played first-team football for some time.’’

Hoddle was delighted with the win which keeps Tottenham in touch with the Premiership pace-setters, though he admitted the performance was a long way from their best.

‘‘In the past Spurs sides have sometimes had a soft centre and we showed today we haven’t because after the goal was scored we had to prove very resilient,’’ said Hoddle.

‘‘It has been a very good day for us. We weren’t at our best but still picked up three points. The top five is what we are trying to get into and the teams in there are three or four years ahead of us and are 95 per cent done in what they are trying to achieve.

‘‘We’re just six months into it and are only at 50 per cent. There’s still a lot to improve on but we certainly have the basis.’’