Andrew Cole (don't call him Andy...You wouldn't like him when he's Andy) Is one of those divisive players. Some think he’s a slightly over rated striker who needs 5 chances to score and who's impressive scoring record is embellished by playing for such a prolific side, whilst some see him as a criminally underrated forward, unfairly tarnished by a poor and inconsistent international record and the ill advised utterances of a bat s**t crazy England manager. There’s no doubting his scoring record, still second only to Alan Shearer in English football, but which assessment is really fair?

Andy (he hasn't really got any problem with that apparently) began his career at Arsenal where he made only one solitary League appearance before he moved to Fulham on loan and then eventually Bristol City. He was, at the time, the clubs most expensive signing at £500,000 and after averaging a goal every other game (Often scoring a lovely pair for Bristol) he was signed by Newcastle United by pocket sized poodle haired tyro and trainee Messiah, Kevin Keegan, for again a club record fee. This time £1.75m.

//

During The Life of Brian, sorry Kevin, Newcastle took the then First Division (formerly the Second and latterly the Coca Cola disco Christmas lights Championship, which is actually still the Second....probably) and then The Premier League by storm. Cole scored 41 goals in all competitions in Newcastle's first PL season, breaking a 70 year old club record and winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award, becoming the hottest prospect in British football in the process. His goal record at Newcastle was 68 in 84, a strike rate of 81% and it was that kind of deadly efficiency that saw Cole welcomed into the hearts, minds and man-bosoms of the shirtless Geordie faithful. So much so that one fan even had his image tattooed on his arm in full Newcastle kit. He soon regretted it.

For the 3rd time in succession, Cole was bought for a club record fee - despite angry protestations from Newcastle fans and the ‘Sermon on the Steps’ from little Kev -  this time for £7m and by Manchester United. In his fist half season Cole was instrumental in keeping United on the pace after the temporary loss of Eric Cantona to madness. 12 goals in 18 games, 5 in the 9-0 drubbing of Ipswich and a crucial brace against Coventry made sure United went into the final day of the season still in with a chance of retaining the title. Unfortunately, West Ham scuppered the plan and Cole in particular was thwarted 3 times in the dying minutes in an inspired performance from 'Ammers stopper Ludek Miklosko. The idea that Cole needed several chances to score was born.

The 95/96 Season was a tough one for Cole. Essentially the only injury free season in which he wasn't a free scoring goal machine, Cole was unfairly criticized for missing too many chances, a tag that stuck despite never being backed up by any decent evidence. This was mainly due to his failure to make an impact at International level, a fact not helped by an already established 'SAS' partnership (Shearer & Sheringham) and a (presumably divine) grudge held by then Manager Glen 'Gotta Have Faith' Hoddle.

Cole had a torrid time of it and never quite formed his own 'SAS' style partnership with returning talisman Eric Cantona (in truth, they were CAC together...but never as bad as some made out) Despite this Cole contributed 2 of the most important goals of that season, a glorious opener against former club and title rivals Newcastle, and the second in the title clunching 3-0 win over Middlesbrough.

His 96/97 season was blighted by injury when he had both his legs broken by collar popping cockney thug and future reality TV contestant Neil 'Razor' Ruddock in a reserve game against Liverpool. Despite that he still managed 7 goals from his meager 11 starts.

After the departure of Cantona, Cole came into his own and was United’s top scorer for the 97/98 season with 25 goals. He finished as the Leagues top scorer and runner up in the PFA Players' Player of the Year Award.

Onto 1998/99 and United signed Dwight Yorke from Aston Villa. Speculation was rife that Cole would be on his way out, as it had been numerous times during his injury hit career at Old Trafford. Nothing could have been further from the truth however as Cole & Yorke formed a mystically telepathic relationship on the field. So in tune with each other they were that Ron Atkinson often found it hard to tell them apart whilst commentating (though, on reflection, this could have been for other reasons). Among Cole's 23 goals in that Treble winning season for the Reds were the winners in the Champions League Semi Final against Juventus, and Tottenham - to clinch the title on the final day of the season. Controlling a long through ball by Gary Neville, he delicately lifted the ball over Spurs Keeper Ian 'the hair' Walker to begin the greatest 3 game run in the clubs illustrious history.

The following season Handy Andy bagged over 20 goals in all competitions for the 3rd year in succession including a spectacular 20 yard overhead kick against Leicester, helping United on their way to a 2nd successive League title. He then notched his 100th goal for the club in a 2-2 draw against the now extinct Wimbledon. He was also, rather surprisingly, voted the 9th best player in the World at the 1999 FIFA World player of the year Awards but cruelly missed out on an almost certain place in England’s Euro 2000 squad due to an injury late in the season.

In 2000/01 he broke Dennis Law's record for all time United goals scored in Europe (a record later broken by Ditmar van Nostrelboy) and contributed 13 goals from an injury-hit season that included another brilliant overhead kick against Marseille.

The arrival of Van Nistelrooy spelled the end of Andy's United career and he was sold to Blackburn for £8m in 2002. In his first season at Blackburn he collected the one and only medal that had eluded him at United, scoring the winning goal in the League Cup final against Glen 'I was wrong, forgive me Lord' Hoddle's Tottenham.

He was joined briefly there by Dwight Yorke, who had fallen foul of Ferguson at United after injuring himself holidaying in Jordan but they failed to bring a similar spark to Ewood Park. They both received a standing ovation however, when they returned to Old Trafford as opponents.

He retired from football in 2008 whilst at Notts Forest, leaving a record of 184 Premier League goals, 229 English league goals altogether and 121 in 275 appearances for Manchester United. A feat made all the more impressive by the fact that only one of those, was a penalty. He's also the only person in the Premier League scoring charts to have had a record reach number 64 in the pop charts.

So overrated or underrated?...You decide, I know which camp I’m in, and there aren’t any faith healers in it.