Cole gave a stunning reminder to Sven-Goran Eriksson of England's depth in teenage talent with a superb demonstration of striking skills at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea beat Gillingham 2-1 in the Worthington Cup.
Cole might be an old stager at 19 compared to Everton's precocious Wayne Rooney but in his first start of the season he showed exactly why they are purring about his prospects in the blue half of London.
Cole scored two goals, one with his feet and the other with his head, to make a formality of this third-round tie which the Premiership side dominated much more than the tight scoreline suggests.
The first goal was alone worth the price of a ticket. It came in the 20th minute and central defender William Gallas proved the architect, conjuring a wonderful through ball which glided into the path of Cole. The teenager simply took the ball in his stride, waited for Gillingham goalkeeper Jason Brown to commit himself, and then coolly slid the ball into the empty net.
It took just seven minutes of the second half for Cole to prove that he is just as good in the air as he is on the floor. Jody Morris broke free down the right and sent over a pinpoint chip which Cole met at the far post and dispatched it with power and accuracy into the far corner of the net.
Substitute Marlon King poached a last-second consolation when the Chelsea defence went to sleep for the first time all night.