Coventry City boss Tony Mowbray has praised Joe Cole for his performance during his debut in the 0-0 draw at Rochdale.

The Sky Blues coach hailed the ex-England international for his professionalism and admitted that was impressed with his fitness level, given his lack of first-team football in recent years.

"I thought Joe Cole was more impressive than he might have been," Mowbray told reporters. "He's hardly played any football in the last couple of years but I thought his fitness levels were superb and a credit to him as a professional.

"He's been great in the dressing room because he could have come in with the attitude that he's better than everyone else but he hasn't, he's mucked in as one of the lads and, if anything, I thought he worked too hard in the first half.

"When he did land on the ball we looked a threat. I was really impressed with the levels Joe got to."

Cole played for 57 minutes in the draw that moved Coventry up to fourth place in League One.