Carlton expects to be ‘reinvigorated’ by Middle East jaunt

Wednesday, February 13, 2013
9:04 AM

Striker Carlton Cole is in no doubt West Ham’s warm-weather break to Dubai will boost players’ stamina levels.

The Hammers are not in action again until the visit of London rivals Tottenham on February 25 so they have flown to the Middle East to recharge the batteries ahead of the Premier League run-in.

They did the same last year and it saw the Irons come back to Britain and lose just one of their final 14 games as they fired their way back to the top-flight through the Championship play-offs.

After a fourth loss in six league games at Aston Villa at the weekend, manager Sam Allardyce is hoping for a similar boost as they look to avoid the trap door back to the second tier saying: “It worked last year”

Cole agreed, telling West Ham TV: “The boys will be re-charged and reinvigorated.

“We keep focused on training and doing the right things, but the difference is that you benefit from the warmer weather and it is in a different environment, just a change and it mixes it up for all the lads.

“I have always found it positive and we have come back to good results after trips like this.

“It is a chance for the team to also look at what we have done so far and what there is still to be done, talking and looking at this all together.”