Source: Daily_Mail
Carlton Cole on fire at West Ham thanks to Demba Ba and Robbie Keane, says Avram Grant
West Ham manager Avram Grant thinks that signing Demba Ba and Robbie Keane has helped put Carlton Cole on course to break his current goalscoring record.[LNB]Much was expected of Cole when he made the move across London from Chelsea to West Ham in 2006. With his power and pace, Cole was touted as one of the best prospects in the country but he returned just 21 goals in his first three years at Upton Park.[LNB]The 27-year-old struggled in front of goal at the start of this term too and looked to be on his way out of the club after falling out of favour with Grant after he criticised the manager's tactics following a 3-0 drubbing at Anfield in November.[LNB] Cole fire: West Ham boss Avram Grant believes Carlton Cole is back to his best[LNB]His game has picked up considerably over the last couple of months though, and he has notched five goals in his last six appearances to take his tally to 11 for the season - one short of last year's haul which is currently the highest in his career.[LNB]Grant reckons the January arrivals of Ba from Hoffenheim, and Keane from Tottenham, have helped Cole sharpen his game and is looking forward to the club continuing to reap the benefits as they aim to stay in the Barclays Premier League and reach the FA Cup semi-finals with a win at Stoke on Sunday.[LNB]Grant said:'Competition makes you stronger. Look at Carlton Cole before the competition and look at him now. [LNB]'He has scored a lot of goals in the last month which is very good so it will do good for us and the other players and I believe in this.[LNB]'All the strikers are better since January, it seems. Freddie (Sears) is doing well and Victor Obinna is so I think the competition has been good for us.'[LNB]Ba has grabbed all the headlines by scoring four in four since his arrival, but Keane's signing has arguably been just as important for the club.[LNB] Cole's goal: The Hammers were comfortable 3-0 winners over Stoke during the recent league clash and Grant wants his side to repeat that performance when they meet again at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday[LNB]The 30-year-old scored on his Hammers debut and impressed on his second appearance before suffering a calf injury that has kept him out of action for a month.[LNB]He looks set to return to the starting line-up at Stoke and Grant believes the striker has had a big impact.[LNB]'Robbie came in at a very hard time for the team when we had a lot of injuries, played well and then got injured,' Grant said.[LNB]'He was important for us in the short term. He is a good player to have in the dressing room as well and I just hope he will be fit and OK now.'[LNB]Grant will have the rare luxury of having all members of his first-team squad available for Sunday's game at the Britannia Stadium.[LNB]Scott Parker has recovered from a shoulder injury, Obinna is fully fit and injury-plagued midfielder Kieron Dyer has been shipped out on loan to Ipswich for a month.[LNB] Fresh start: Grant hopes Kieron Dyer can return from his loan spell at Ipswich with improved fitness[LNB]Dyer has failed to make an impact in his three years at Upton Park and may have played his last game for the club, with his lucrative contract due to expire in the summer.[LNB]Grant insists, however, that the 32-year-old could play a part in the remainder of the Hammers' campaign if he performs well at Portman Road.[LNB]'Kieron Dyer is a very good player,' Grant added. 'He has been injured and needs to play now.[LNB]'Everyone knows him at Ipswich. He will play there for one month and hopefully he will come back fit.'[LNB]West Ham go to Stoke on Sunday hoping to make up for their recent Carling Cup semi-final exit to Birmingham by beating the Potters for the second time in a week to set up a Wembley semi-final in the FA Cup.[LNB]The club are on their best run of the season with three wins from three and Grant hopes to make it four this weekend.[LNB]'We are going there with good confidence but we know who we are playing against exactly and Stoke are a difficult team to beat,' he said.[LNB] West Ham flop Dyer rejoins old club Ipswich in month-long loan switchPulis expects his side to come under the Hammer but Stoke boss eyes WembleyStoke v WEST HAM: Fit-again Keane in contention for FA Cup comebackAll the latest West Ham news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:People: Robbie Keane, Carlton Cole, Kieron Dyer Places: Birmingham, London
