• ‘He has been banging goals in since leaving Premier League’ • Colombia striker reignited his career in Ligue 1 with Monaco

Gary Cahill believes England will face a far more deadly Radamel Falcao when they play Colombia on Tuesday than the player who failed to make an impact in the Premier League.

From Cristiano Ronaldo in Germany in 2006, to Mario Balotelli and Luis Suárez in Brazil four years ago, England are painfully aware of the damage that can be inflicted by Premier League alumni on the big stage. Whether it is a keener awareness of the opposition or some deeper motivation to prove a point to those who doubted them, each has contributed significantly to England’s exit from the World Cup in tournaments past.

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Arguably, the Colombia duo of Falcao and Juan Cuadrado have even more reason to bring misery to England after both endured a torrid couple of seasons in the Premier League. Falcao has an affinity with England and not just because of the two years he spent living in the country. The 32-year-old has British blood, his great-grandfather George King having been born in Selby, North Yorkshire, before moving to South America in 1932.

In his home country, Falcao is known as El Tigre, a nickname first given to him by a teammate early in his career, in recognition of a ruthlessness in front of goal.

It is a moniker that would have seemed almost laughable to those who closely watched his underwhelming spells at Chelsea and Manchester United. But Cahill, who played alongside Falcao at Stamford Bridge, remembers a player who worked hard despite struggling to make an impact.

“It was a bit stop-start for him,” Cahill said, “Sometimes, you don’t get loads of opportunities, you’re in for one or two games, then you’re out or not even a full 90, that was his frustration for us. He never really got up and running, or got a good spell of games back to back to find any sort of form. Obviously the competition was there and I’m sure for him it was difficult but he showed his character to go on and find his goalscoring form again. He’s been banging goals in again ever since.”

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In France’s Ligue 1, Falcao has reignited his career at Monaco, scoring 54 goals for club and country since leaving England, and was nominated for the 2017 Ballon d’Or.

“Outside of England he’s a very high-profile player,” Cahill said. “He’s scored many goals. He did have a difficult time in England, showed his character when he went to find his form again. He’s someone we’re all very aware of.”