Sam Allardyce backing Carlton Cole in absence of Andy Carroll for West Ham

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is hoping Carlton Cole can rediscover his goalscoring touch while loanee Andy Carroll recovers from the hamstring injury he suffered on his Hammers debut.

"We have got no time on it really," added Allardyce. "It will be a maximum of six weeks but he is improving well so we continue day-by-day and look at every day and see what type of improvement we have got and go from there. "If there is a possibility we can get him back quicker we will be trying our best." The loan signing of Carroll was one of the marquee deals of the transfer window and the arrival of the England international, coupled with other new arrivals, has left Allardyce delighted with the some of the options he now has at his disposal. "The last three signings that the co-chairmen okayed were brilliant for us," he said. "I think Matt Jarvis, Andy Carroll and Yossi (Benayoun) are all of great talent in their own positions and all of a different talent that makes us a much better team and a much better squad. "Hopefully when they get the opportunity to play they will show those talents from the very first opportunity they get. "We have got Matt Jarvis who is the provider of more crosses than anyone else in the Premier League during his time at Wolves. "We've got Yossi Benayoun with his quick feet and his ability to beat players in and around the final third - and we have got Andy Carroll who plays up front and in his own right is a fantastic centre-forward through his sheer talent, determination and his size. "Those three players will make our side look good for the rest of this season."