Liverpool defender Kolo Toure admits he is impressed with how Emre Can has adapted to playing in defence, stressing that the German is first and foremost a midfielder.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers snapped up Can as part of a £100m plus summer spending spree last year, but the former Bayer Leverkusen man took time to hit the ground running.
He has benefited though from Liverpool switching to a back three in December, with manager Rodgers now regularly deploying the German as one of the trio.
Toure has been delighted with how Can has taken to the role, but believes he will need time to truly master it as he is a midfielder by trade.
"Emre is a midfielder first of all", the Ivorian centre-back told his club's site.
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"Technically, he's really powerful. When we play three at the back, technically, he's very good and very strong and he has quality to play at the back because he has those skills.
"Tactically, he's very good – he's from Germany, so there's no surprise about that.
"Technically he's very good as well. He just needs time to adapt to this position", Toure added.
Can may receive the chance to further add to his experience in defence when Liverpool take on Blackburn Rovers in an FA Cup quarter-final tie at Anfield tomorrow.
The Reds are desperate to reach the semi-final of the competition as they go in search of their first piece of silverware of Rodgers' reign.
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