Tottenham Hotspur and England defenders Kyle Walker and Danny Rose are among "the best full-backs around," Spurs legend Ledley King has said.
Walker and Rose are essential to the way Tottenham play, providing width from full-back, and helped the club to the second best defensive record in the Premier League last season.
They have continued their fine form as Spurs have conceded just six goals in 11 league games so far this season, impressing as wing-backs in the recent draw at Arsenal.
"In my time, there was no emphasis to get forward for full-backs," King told the official Spurs website. "It was about tucking in with the centre-halves and positional, but it's all changed now.
"Modern-day full-backs have to be so fit and have the speed not just to attack with pace but to be able to recover as well.
"A lot of the game is played through the full-backs and they are vital in this team. These two are a big reason why we're performing at such a high level, and the way they've developed is incredible."
King said both Rose and Walker boasted speed that "makes them so difficult to beat in one-on-one situations" and added: "They are two of the best full-backs around, with everything modern-day full-backs need and that ability to get up and down the pitch."
Walker moved to White Hart Lane from Sheffield United in summer 2009 before making his breakthrough for Spurs at the start of the 2011-12 season.
"Kyle had to be patient -- there were a few more experienced players in front of him at the time and it was a matter of biding his time," King added.
Rose, meanwhile, joined from Leeds United as a 17-year-old midfield player in 2007 but was converted to left-back by then-manager Harry Redknapp after four loan spells.
"Once he played at full-back, I thought he was brilliant," former centre-half King said. "He always had that defensive part to his game, so it was just about learning the position.
"He's done that and made the position his own, for England as well."