West Ham United Football Club News

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

• Ground:Upton Park
• Capacity:35,595

Zola plays down Cole credit

25 Sep 2009 - 07:55:47

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West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola has refused to take the credit for striker Carlton Cole's improvements in recent months.

The 25-year-old frontman has finally tapped into the potential he showed earlier on in his career and has broken into the senior England set-up this year.

However, Zola commented: "Carlton is very humble and sometimes he's too quiet.

"He just needed to realise how good he was - perhaps he didn't know.

"He didn't realise what he was capable of and so we try to speak to him every week - showing what he is doing and what he is good at.

"We try to look after him in every aspect of his game and his mental approach. People try to give me credit, but actually it's all down to him."

Cole has scored 23 times in 97 appearances since joining the Hammers in the summer of 2006.