West Ham United Football Club News

• Nickname:Hammers
• Founded:1895
• Manager:Sam Allardyce

• Ground:Upton Park
• Capacity:35,595

Hammers wait on Cole news

14 Dec 2007 - 07:43:12

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West Ham United are keeping their fingers crossed that Carlton Cole will be given the green light to face Everton following a fresh injury crisis at Upton Park.

The Hammers host Everton on Saturday hoping Cole is passed fit to partner Dean Ashton in attack.

Cole aggravated a hip injury during Wednesday's Carling Cup quarter-final defeat to the Toffees and faces a race against time to prove his fitness.

Should the former England Under-21 international fail to convince manager Alan Curbishley of his availability then Ashton will be employed as a lone striker.

The Hammers already have fellow strikers Craig Bellamy and Bobby Zamora on the long-term injury list, while a host of other first-team stars are currently unavailable.

"We are into double figures again on the injury list and one or two of the players came off suffering. I will have to see what I have left for the weekend," Curbishley admitted.

"When you come into the quarter-final of the cup and you can't get a forward on the bench it is frustrating.

"The injuries showed up. They were sharper and more physical than us."