But the former England ace insists that Armstrong, whose fifth double of the season ultimately settled a 4-3 Ricoh thriller against Barnsley, has almost unlimited potential.
“Adam’s a terrific player who reminds me of Aguero,” said Cole, after watching the Newcastle United teenager rattle in his fifth brace of the season.
“That’s a massive statement but he’s got that stocky stature and he turns and twists and he can finish and score goals.
“He just needs to keep developing and keep moving. He has got the attitude of a striker who is hungry for goals and, in a lovely way, he’s selfish for goals as are all the best strikers I’ve played with.
"I think he’s got all the ingredients to be a top player and hopefully score many, many goals.”
Armstrong – League One’s player of the month in August and a nominee for the October award – took his outstanding tally to 12 in the 4-3 midweek victory over the Tykes, four ahead of the world class Argentine who bagged five of his season’s haul so far in the 6-1 mauling of the Magpies last month to inflict more woe on Steve McClaren’s beleaguered side.
A combination of Armstrong’s strike-rate and United’s flagging form could, of course, conspire against the Sky Blues if McClaren feels under pressure to recall the 18-year-old before his initial loan is up in January, or keep him for the second half of the season when he does return.
But Cole believes the Ricoh Arena is the best place for Armstrong right now, insisting: “He’s at a great club for his development as a player. The gaffer is fantastic with the young players because he’s a forward thinking manager.
“League One football 15 or 16 years ago when I started playing is nothing like it is now, so credit to the Academy systems that everyone tries to play and pass it properly.
"I have played three games at this level now and every team has tried to pass it properly so I think English football is changing.
“I think all these players are going to get better because they’re not just hoofing it up-field and heading and kicking it. They are all trying to improve their technique and touch.
“There are players like Leicester’s Jamie Vardy who have developed and developed and now become an England international.
“We have to pass the ball because there’s no team won the World Cup hoofing it up the pitch.”