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Chelsea’s UEFA Europa Conference League hat-trick hero Marc Guiu has what it takes to "go all the way," according to Joe Cole, who sees some similarities between the teenager and Luis Suarez.
The 18-year-old joined Chelsea from Barcelona in the summer on a five-year deal but has had limited game time under Enzo Maresca.
TNT Sports experts Joe Cole and Shay Given discussed the impact of the Spanish teenager, who Cole believes shares some attributes with former Liverpool and Barcelona star Suarez.
"I likened him to Suarez and I got a lot of stick for it," Cole said. "I’m not saying he is Luis Suarez now, but what he’s got is that instinct and bravery.
"He’s thinking ‘I’m going to gamble’ and he commits at full pace."
Cole added: "How have Barcelona let him go? He’s 18 years of age, this kid in two years’ time could be an established, unbelievable No. 9. I think he can go all the way.
"I watch him and things you can’t teach, he’s already got. He knows to get in the box, his instinct, his aggression, he’s brave. You can brush up on all the other things in his game.
"He’s 18, playing with a smile on his face, I think Barcelona have made a real mistake there."
Guiu faces serious competition for places at Stamford Bridge, with the likes of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson ahead of him in the pecking order for a starting striker shirt.
And the TNT Sports experts believe the club now face a conundrum in deciding whether the youngster would benefit more from staying to fight for a spot or leaving on a temporary basis.
Given said: "That’s the biggest problem for Enzo Maresca - what happens next? January is around the corner, do they loan him out to get more experience?
'Unlucky' Guiu should stay 'patient' for football at Chelsea, says Maresca
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"Or does he think after a hat-trick tonight that this guy is ready, I’ll keep hold of him, he’s going to maybe come off the bench a few times in the Premier League and could make the difference. He’s so sharp and a bit of an unknown for Premier League defenders as well."
Cole replied: "He’ll be a nightmare for the last 20 minutes of a game, if you’re a centre-half and your legs have been tested and this kid comes on and he’s pressing you.
"He’s almost in a Catch-22, because he could do with going somewhere and getting 20 games in the Premier League and he’ll be a better player, but you don’t want to let him go out the door because I think he’ll have a say in the second half of the season."
Dewsbury-Hall: 'Never seen anyone press like him'
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It was not just the TNT Sports team who were impressed by the teenage striker’s performance, as team-mate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall paid tribute to Guiu.
The midfielder was also on the scoresheet in a big win over the Irish side that secured top spot in the Conference League table for Chelsea and an automatic last-16 place, with Marc Cucurella bagging the other goal.
Dewsbury-Hall told TNT Sports after the game why he has been impressed by the impact of Guiu since his arrival in the summer.
'Never seen anyone press like him' - Dewsbury-Hall hails hat-trick hero Guiu
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"I like Marc, he’s a really honest lad and he’s young, just come from Spain, it can be tough for a player," said Dewsbury-Hall.
"You can see in the goals, I’ve never seen anyone press like him. He doesn’t slow down, he nicked one tonight from that. He’ll keep working hard.
"You forget how young he is, he’s only 18, so he deserves his hat-trick."
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