The former Newcastle winger remembers when Colo couldn't even make the bench in his early months at St James' Park.
Peter Lovenkrands
Peter Lovenkrands (talking to the Chronicle): "Fabricio Coloccini is one of the best defenders I have ever played with.
"I remember coming into Newcastle United when I first signed under Joe Kinnear and Chris Hughton then again under Alan Shearer, I was sitting next to Colo in the stands at Tottenham. At that stage he wasn’t even on the bench.
"He wasn’t getting his game and Seb Bassong and Steven Taylor were playing ahead of him – but he kept ticking over and training hard.
"Then when we were in the Championship he got played again.
"He was absolutely outstanding to the point that he won his place back in the Argentina national team again.
"Maybe people take it for granted some times but Colo is world class. He has proven that many times."