Joe Cole made brutal comments about a Premier League team after deciding to miss their first match of the season

Joe Cole will be back on TNT Sports punditry duty this week after 'skipping' a match for the broadcaster. Ahead of the opening weekend of the season, the former Chelsea and West Ham star revealed he had dodged the opportunity to cover Hull City's home clash with Manchester United.

Speaking on the Dressing Room podcast, he admitted: "I want to make a confession here today, right. TNT Sports have contacted me for the new season.

"They've tried to slip in the Hull one on the first day of the season. I put my phone on do not disturb!"

Cole ended up missing a shock result as Hull claimed a 2-0 win over Michael Carrick's side. While the comments upset Hull fans, the move doesn't seem to have got him in hot water with TNT Sports, who have assigned him to this week's Champions League match between Napoli and Arsenal.

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He will join presenter Reshmin Chowdhury and Martin Keown for the network's coverage of the game. Cole had been one of many pundits to tip the newly promoted Tigers for immediate relegation, saying they were "gone" before a ball had even been kicked.

He said: "Hull are gone, man. They've spent 70 mil, I'll be stunned if they stay up. They've come here through the back door, they've slipped in."

However, Hull have confounded expectations so far, sitting third in the Premier League table after three games, with only last season's top two, Arsenal and Manchester City, above them.

After beating fellow promoted side Coventry City, Hull's fine start continued with Saturday's goalless draw with Aston Villa at the MKM Stadium. Mohamed Belloumi hit the crossbar as they pushed for a winner against the Europa League holders.

Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic: "I would sign immediately if you'd offered me [seven points]. Immediately.

"But also it's great for us that we show that we can compete on this level, that we can be dangerous, that we can maybe play some situations better in possession because you need confidence.

"But, still, we are growing here. In every game we will grow and we will be better."

Hull, who visit Sunderland in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, face another Premier League heavyweight this weekend, with a trip to Chelsea.