Could a fast pre-dreadnought escort a Second World War convoy?

Could a pre-dreadnought making 23 to 25 knots serve in the Second World War?

Potentially as a convoy escort; an early type would not beat a modern battle fleet, but a later Lord Nelson-like ship could handle a Panzerschiff-type opponent.

The answer separates a ship's escort value from its suitability for a line-of-battle fight. An early pre-dreadnought would be outclassed, while a later Lord Nelson-like design could still defeat a Deutschland or Panzerschiff type in the right circumstances. A speed of 23 to 25 knots could therefore be useful for convoy duty without making the ship suitable against an enemy battle fleet. The exchange judges an old warship by its assigned mission and likely opponent rather than age alone.