Cole move has seal of approval

Devante Cole insists his move to Fleetwood Town has his dad's seal of approval.
Devante Cole on his Fleetwood debutDevante Cole on his Fleetwood debut
Devante Cole on his Fleetwood debut

Devante Cole insists his move to Fleetwood Town has his dad’s seal of approval.

The striker’s father is former Manchester United and England ace Andy.

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The Premier League legend was at Highbury on Saturday to watch his son make his debut - and nearly bag a late winner - in Fleetwood’s 0-0 draw against Doncaster.

And Cole junior told The Gazette his move, secured last week, has the family seal of approval.

Cole was a Manchester City youngster before his summer switch to Bradford City - a move which didn’t prove fruitful for either the club or the player.

But now the 20-year-old believes he’s in the right place.

“My dad’s very happy,” he said.

“He thinks it will suit me a lot more than Bradford.

“He just wants me to get my head down and crack on.

“I’ve just got to work hard and score goals and whatever comes off the back of it comes.”

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And, despite being thrown in at the deep end on Saturday, Cole has so far been impressed with life at Highbury.

“It’s been good,” he said.

“They’ve been a really good set of lads and I’ve settled in well.

“I feel really welcome here.

“Coming on Friday, playing on Saturday, even for the last 30 minutes.

“It’s been fast but I’ve enjoyed it.

“It’s probably the best way.

“If you’re waiting around you might get a little nervous.

“But this way you’re in there straight away, there’s no time to think.

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“You’re playing and that’s what it’s all about and you just want to kick on.”

Fleetwood boss Steven Pressley has admitted he was surprised to find his offer for Cole accepted.

Events moved on very quickly after the initial approach a week ago as Cole explained.

“It was all happening late last Thursday night,” he said.

“I just got a call to say I had to be up here at seven the next day.

“Straight away I was thinking right, let’s go.

“There was no hesitation.

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“I spoke with the manager and all the people, I know they way they want to play football.

“I knew this would suit me very well.”

Cole has been on Pressley’s shopping list since his time as Coventry manager.

And Fleetwood’s new forward wants to reward his new boss, hoping to get game time and goals.

“I’ve six goals already but hopefully I can come here and score a few more,” he said.

“The manager obviously knows what I’m about.

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“Now I’m working with him after he’s been watching me for a long time.

“I just want to get games, that’s what it’s about.

“We’ll just go from there and hopefully it’ll all come together.”

And he believes Town aren’t far off pulling away from the battle at the bottom of the table. Fleetwood didn’t play on Tuesday but lost no ground to their relegation rivals.

They have two games in hand on some of the teams around them, with Rochdale and Scunthorpe slowly being dragged into the mix at the wrong end of League One.

Cole believes things can change quickly

“I don’t see it as a scrap,” he said.

“We’ve just got to go out and try to win every game.

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“You win two or three, you’re out of it, it’s as simple as that.”

With Cole training for a full week with Fleetwood, his full debut may well come at the weekend when, in a twist of fate, Town travel to Valley Parade.

And the striker is keen to show Fleetwood fans what he’s about.

“I’m direct, quick, I like to go past people - I’m very attacking,” he said.

“Hopefully that will get the fans going.

“There’s a lot of pace in there now, myself, Alex and David are all quick and we can hurt teams with that.”