Forward confident ahead of trip to Merseyside and pleased to see Andy Carroll back

West Ham return to Premier League action following the international break with a tricky trip to Goodison Park to face an Everton side slowly recovering their form from last season.

But forward Carlton Cole is confident the Hammers can go there and continue their fine start to the new campaign.

Sam Allardyce’s men were beaten twice by the Toffees last season and have a poor recent record against the Merseyside outfit – not winning since 2007.

But this is a different West Ham team and Cole believes they can get a positive result.

“Our next game is Everton away which is always a tough game,” Cole told whufc.com.

“We’ve got the personnel and good strength in depth to make a difference.

“We’re confident at the moment and I think we can go there and get a result.

“We’ve got a few players out on international duty so with any luck they’ll come back and we’ll be ready for Everton.”

Andy Carroll is one of those just returning from injury and he made his comeback late on during the goalless stalemate with Aston Villa before the international break.

The 25-year-old also featured for the Hammers in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Championship side Fulham last week, alongside Cole.

Carroll scored in the 3-3 draw at Upton Park, with Ricardo Vaz Te and Kevin Nolan also on target.

And although Cole is vying with the former Newcastle forward for a starting place in Allardyce’s team, he was happy to see ‘the big man’ continue his comeback from an ankle injury suffered in pre-season and said: “I felt good out there. It was good playing up front with the big man AC.

“I was playing in the hole and pulling a few strings.

“It was good to see AC get back on the scoresheet and also set up one for Kevin Nolan.

“If you were watching from a neutral point of view, I think it was a good game.”

For Cole, the return of Carroll will surely see him drop further down the striking pecking order.

Summer signings Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho have made instant impressions and restricted the 31-year-old to cameo appearances.

But Cole has still managed to score twice in the Premier League – during West Ham’s 3-1 away victories at Crystal Palace and Burnley.

And he will continue to give his all, adding: “It’s hard to find form when you’re not starting, but everyone who knows me knows I always give 100 per cent every game.”