Paris Saint-Germain starlet Warren Zaire-Emery is compared to Wayne Rooney by Joe Cole

Paris Saint-Germain teenager Warren Zaire-Emery has been compared to a young Wayne Rooney by Joe Cole.

Zaire-Emery, 16, was named in PSG's starting XI for their Champions League round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich on Tuesday evening, following his manager Christophe Galtier's high praise.

Speaking regarding the player on BT Sport ahead of this evening's mouthwatering clash between two European heavyweights, Cole did not hold back on his praise for the player, comparing him to one of the game's most notable ever teenage talents.

'He's an incredible talent,' Cole said. 'Physically he reminds me of Wayne Rooney, the size of his thighs at just 16.

'He's a man already. We were talking about his mindset. Usually, when you score your first goal, you lost your mind completely, but he just strolls away, cool as you like.

'His manager, Galtier, has said he's not far off the level of his front three (Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe).'

Owen Hargreaves echoed his colleague's sentiments, saying young players rarely 'fear' and as such he can be trusted in such a big occasion as a Champions League knockout tie against six-time winners Bayern Munich.

'I think with young players they don't really fear,' he said. 'They have never experienced failure. His selection shows you, this kid is in form, the players and manager trust him. He looks up to the task.'

Zaire-Emery has enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season with the French giants. The midfielder has made 11 appearances in Ligue 1 this season, with his only other appearance in Europe coming against Maccabi Tel Aviv in a 7-2 victory.

Asked about how he has assimilated to playing more regularly, Galtier praised Zaire-Emery and fired a warning shot to perhaps more senior players in the squad that his age will not sway him from deploying the teenager.

'I have to have some competition in the squad,' he said. 'If a 16 and a half or 17 year old is more capable of playing than the other players, they will play.'

Not 17 until next month, he has already scored two goals for PSG this season in the league, against Montpellier and Monaco.

Joleon Lescott referenced PSG's poor form so far this year - they have lost four times across Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France - as reason for him being thrown in, despite only having played a handful of minutes in the competition prior to Tuesday night.

'One hundred per cent. The club form isn't great, but he's been decent,' he said.

Lescott urged him to recognise the 'space' he should pick up, adding the quality of player PSG have at their disposal means her will find chances and openings in the game.

'He's intelligent,' Cole added. 'He has to realise that picking up spaces and finding space will give him an opportunity to score.'

Extending the conversation more widely to a general discussion about PSG, amid confirmed reports of changing room bust ups and arguments between team-mates, all the pundits agreed that it was a big night for the club, following years of underachievement and disappointment in the competition.

Galtier has found himself under increasing pressure in recent weeks, with performances and results falling off a cliff since French domestic football returned post-World Cup.

'Their season is defined by this,' Hargreaves said. 'The team is under pressure, they were dreadful against Monaco and could have conceded five or six, were it not for (goalkeeper) Gianluigi Donnarumma.

'They need to find a way to produce their two biggest performances so far this season. If the front three fancy it, Messi, Neymar and Mbappe, then they will win.'