Exclusive: Rudi Vata excited seeing Broja at Chelsea, Strakosha with Brentford | OneFootball

Albanian great Rudi Vata admits it's exciting seeing two of his countrymen now playing in the Premier League.

A former Celtic defender, where he earned cult hero status, Vata says it can only be positive for Albania's football seeing Armando Broja and Thomas Strakosha both in England's top-flight.

Vata told Tribalfootball.com: "Players like Broja and Strakosha, who now play in England, where the Premier League is the best league in the world, is good for us.

"The game there has a lot of intensity, aggression, speed, power and technique and of course the demands and the standards are so high."

Indeed, Vata is convinced striker Broja, who has just signed a new six-year deal with Chelsea, and goalkeeper Strakosha, having moved to Brentford from Lazio over the summer, will see their games dramatically improve by playing consistently in England for this season and beyond.

So far this term, Broja has managed six appearances for Chelsea, while Strakosha made his debut for the Bees in the EFL Cup win at Colchester.

A globetrotting veteran himself, having played in Scotland, France and Germany, Vata is confident Albania's national team will benefit enormously from Broja and Strakosha's development in England. That is, so long as both players continue to compete and perform at the required standard.

He added, "We are very lucky to have them, but in the meantime they have to perform and work very hard to keep a place in the team and that's not easy, but they are there and working hard and I am sure they can have and important role and become important members of their team.

"I really do wish them the very best of luck."