Cole: SWP Is The Best Player I Have Faced

Ask Joe Cole who he regards as England's best player and his answer may well surprise you.

"I think JT would claim he's the best and he's very good," he says with a laugh. "But it has to be Shaun Wright-Phillips."

Okay, so it's not the answer most football fans would expect of the Reds' new No.10, but then again, he's not actually referring to the beautiful game itself.

Instead, the 28-year-old is describing past battles that have ensued whilst enjoying one his main off-the-field passions... Gaming.

"I've been playing since I was a kid," he explained during a chat with Rivalspot.com prior to Sunday's opening day draw with Arsenal.

"I especially like the sports games, since they are the most competitive."

Having grown up during an era that saw the emergence of the SEGA and Nintendo consoles, Cole is never shy of challenging his England teammates to a head-to-head on FIFA and Pro Evolution - even if it does lead to a defeat against a man he regards as the gaming world's answer to Lionel Messi.

"Shaun (Wright-Phillips) is incredible at any game you want to play and you rarely see him without a pad (controller) in his hand, wherever you are, travelling around the world," says Cole.

"Practice makes perfect and I hate saying it, but he's the best."

Given the frequent travel and spare time that goes hand-in-hand with the modern footballer, it's easy to see why Cole and co reach for the control pad.

But what happens when a decision doesn't go his way? Is it all taken in good humour or is it as serious as when they cross that white line on a Saturday afternoon?

"I used to get in heated games with JT (John Terry) because he's a very competitive player," admits Cole.

"It's always very competitive. You take intense guys and let them play and that's what happens.

"It's a great social thing to do while you're travelling and living in hotel rooms though - someone's always got a Playstation or an Xbox.

"I've always enjoyed boxing games and it's crazy having fighters from different eras in Fight Night. I love having someone like Mike Tyson facing Mohammed Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard fighting Ricky Hatton."

"I usually win at the boxing and lose at the football," he adds with a laugh. "So I only put down wagers with my friends on something like Fight Night."