Joe Cole has backed Tammy Abraham to "embrace" the challenge of competing with Timo Werner for a spot in the Chelsea starting lineup.

Earlier this week, the Blues confirmed that they had agreed a deal for the RB Leipzig attacker, who has starred in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season.

Although Werner is being tipped to move ahead of Abraham in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, Cole feels that it will lead to a positive response from the academy graduate.

The ex-playmaker is quoted by The Mirror as saying: "You know there's a whole team of people in the scouting network scouring the world looking for someone to come in to take your job, to do your job better than you within the team.

"So players at the top level should know that is normal at a club like Chelsea. If you can't accept that as a reality playing for such a massive club, that's the reason why certain players stay at middle clubs because they get comfortable in that position.

"Tammy Abraham will embrace the challenge of Werner coming in and will improve because his attitude is second to none, and Frank [Lampard] understands the importance of competitive squads to drive you on and push you. I think the players will accept it as part of the reality of playing for Chelsea and it will improve them, I believe in that."

The signing of Werner comes at a time when Chelsea are looking to extend Abraham's contract past the end of the 2021-22 campaign.