West Ham star expecting new arrivals in January

By Nick Wright Sunday, December 16, 2012
12:02 PM

Carlton Cole expects West Ham manager Sam Allardyce to add new players to his injury-ravaged squad in the January transfer window.

Defender George McCartney this week joined the growing injury list at Upton Park, which includes key players Andy Carroll, Mohamed Diame, and Yossi Benayoun.

With his options seriously reduced, Allardyce has hinted that he could be ready to add to his squad next month.

The Hammers have been linked with a number of players in recent weeks, including Liverpool’s Joe Cole, Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh and Southampton’s Rickie Lambert.

And Cole, who will continue to deputise for Liverpool loanee Carroll today against West Brom, is expecting to see new faces on the training ground soon.

“I know we maybe need to strengthen as we’ve got so many injuries,” he said.

“In January I think he [Allardyce] might go and look to strengthen – I don’t know if that’s loan signings or whatever – and bring some players in.”

Despite their injury crisis, Cole insists the mood in the West Ham camp is positive and they are looking forward to welcoming their crocked stars back to action as soon as possible.

“If we’ve got some injured players coming back that will be key for us,” he said. “But right now we’re just looking to the future and everything’s looking rosy at the moment because everyone’s in a happy place.”