Whatever his exact measurements, Cole is a big guy. But this is no lumbering centre-forward, rather a quicksilver striker with fast feet and pace to burn.

"We did some tests at Aston Villa the other day and I was pleased that I was neck and neck with Darius Vassell over 15 yards," he says. "Over 40 yards, I had the edge probably because of my longer legs!

"Defenders might not think I am that fast because of my height so maybe I will surprise one or two this season."

Cole is buzzing right now. After a mixed loan spell at Charlton last season, his new Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho suggested he spend a second year away from Stamford Bridge to get regular first-team football.

His Aston Villa debut couldn’t have gone much better on Saturday with Cole scoring with a fierce shot against Southampton.

"I am feeling brilliant. I have set a high standard for myself and if I can play all the time like I did on Saturday, I will be happy," he says.

"I’m gagging for an England goal now. I love to create goals but like all strikers, I want to see my name on the score-sheet. That is how we are judged."

Cole’s potential has been known since making his Chelsea debut at 17. Despite having four years left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, he is at Villa this season and says moving away from London – he grew up in Brentford – has been a good growing-up experience

"I had a chat with my uncle and the rest of my family in the summer. They thought I should play at a new club after Charlton and I was very impressed with what David O’Leary had to say to me about helping my progression as a player.

"I knew the Midlands from a loan spell I had at Wolves a couple of years ago and knew a few of the Villa lads from under-21s like JLloyd Samuel and Gareth Barry.

"So I decided to go up to Birmingham and concentrate on my football and it’s started really well. I want as many first-team games as possible and know that in football, you play when you are performing well."

John Barnes and Gianfranco Zola are two superstars whom Cole has learned a lot from. Barnes was his England idol growing up and Zola was a useful source of advice when starting out at Chelsea.

"I loved watching John Barnes play. I have tried to take bits of his game into my own. I’ve never met him but I would like to.

"Zola was such a professional guy at Chelsea and nice on and off the field. He would give me tips during games and suggest things on the training field.

"He is a legend so you can appreciate what it meant to a young player like me for him to take an interest."

This is a big season for Cole but if his first game is anything to go by, it should be a cracker.

"Darius played a great ball through to me. I thought Antti Niemi was going to come out to collect it but he backed off so I thought I had space to shoot and hit it really well. I didn’t have to break my stride."