West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has revealed he would consider bringing Liverpool outcast Joe Cole back to the club on loan in January.

Former England star Cole, who is also a target for Harry Redknapp’s QPR, has fallen badly out of favour at Liverpool and is widely tipped to leave the club in the near future.

Cole was touted as one of the hottest talents in English football when he burst onto the scene at West Ham as a youngster, but his career has stagnated since a successful spell at Chelsea.

The 31-year-old spent last season on loan at French side Lille and has made just seven appearances under Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool this season.

Allardyce admits transfer funds could be limited in January after the Hammers shelled out on the likes of Matt Jarvis, Mobido Maiga and Alou Diarra in the summer but says a loan swoop for Cole could ease their growing injury list.

“I think it depends where we are in the next week or two, particularly with our injury list, and whether the [board] can find any money to support the team,” he said.

“It would be more on loan terms than on permanent deal terms.”

He added: “The squad might need to be strengthened a little bit based on the injury problems we have at the moment.

“[The board] extended as much money as they possibly could in August and went beyond it.

“Whether they can find any more or not is something I will discuss with them in the near future.”