Kovac - Cole the key

Kovac believes striker's return crucial to staying up

By Vasek Kadlec   Last updated: 2nd January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kovac - Cole the key

Cole: Crucial to Hammers

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Radoslav Kovac believes the key to West Ham's survival prospects is the return of team-mate Carlton Cole.

The England striker has not featured since sustaining a knee injury in the 5-3 win over Burnley back in November but hopes to return this month.

Gianfranco Zola's side currently sit just outside the drop zone on goal difference and West Ham midfielder Kovac believes Cole's return is crucial to their chances of staying up.

He told deniksport.cz: "We have a lot of injured players. The most devastating absence is the one of striker Carlton Cole.

"He is a fantastic player, he is strong in keeping the ball under control. Now it is (Guillermo) Franco who has been playing in his place.

All alone

"Franco is also a great striker, but he is all alone up front. I have recently seen the attack of Bolton or Tottenham. They have Defoe, Crouch, Keane, Pavlyuchenko.

"We have just Franco and the young lads. That leaves us in some trouble when it comes to attacking."

He added: "Every single match is important for us now, we are fully aware of what is at stake.

"As soon as Cole returns to action we will improve, I think. Personally, I am expecting a new signing to arrive during January. We will recover."

Relegation rivals Portsmouth have lost six players to the African Cup of Nations but none have gone from the Hammers.

Advantage

Kovac added: "It may be an advantage.

"Personally, I think Portsmouth will bring in some new players as they have a new owner.

"The clubs at the bottom of the table, who have got enough finances, will be busy in the transfer window.

"On the other hand, the new players must adapt themselves to the conditions first and they are unlikely to make an immediate impact.

"It is good that our team will stay together, but we will be wiser at the end of the season."