Cole's effort not only sealed United's 2-0 win over Olympiakos in Athens on Wednesday, it also made him the highest-scoring Englishman in the history of European club football.

Cole, who celebrates his 30th birthday on Monday, scored three minutes after coming on as a 79th-minute substitute to take his tally to 23 goals.

That passed the tally of fellow United man Bobby Charlton and Tottenham Hotspur's Martin Chivers, both of whom scored 22 goals.

Cole was bitten by the European bug when at Newcastle, scoring a hat-trick in a 5-2 Uefa Cup victory over Antwerp in 1994 and another in the next round against Athletic Bilbao.

He moved to Old Trafford for a then record �6.25m in January 1995 and has racked up a further 19 Champions League goals.

Bobby Charlton's goals came in United's previous golden era and helped them to win the 1968 European Cup, when he scored twice in the 4-1 final victory over Benfica.

He also scored 49 in 106 internationals for England

Chivers scored his goals for Spurs in three prolific Uefa Cup seasons from 1971 to 1974.

The England striker scored eight in 11 games in the 1971-72 season as Spurs lifted the trophy.

He struck eight from 10 the following season and another six in 11 as Spurs lost in the 1974 final.

Cole's latest achievement is a further dent to critics who claim he is just short of the class needed at the game's top level.