Carlton Cole has put pen-to-paper on a new 18-month deal at the club after his previous short-term deal expired earlier this week.
The 30-year-old striker has scored four goals in 14 first-team appearances since rejoining the club in October and has provided much needed back up for Sam Allardyce’s side while club-record signing Andy Carroll remained sidelined through injury.
And Cole admits he is delighted to be staying at the club for at least another year-and-a-half and has his sights firmly set on helping the side climb up the Premier League table.
He told whufc.com: “I’m really happy. I’ve worked hard to get to the position I’m in right now.
“The manager asked me to come back in the summer and I’ve worked hard to get my match fitness and I’ve scored a few goals whilst doing that. Now I just want to help the team push on and get further up the table.
“I’ve always believed that I can score goals and that’s the main thing as a striker, you want to score goals and help the team win. First and foremost it’s all about Premier League survival, we’re down there fighting it out and we just need to stay up and then work from there next season.”
And Cole also admitted that owes a lot to the club for keeping faith in him by offering him an extended deal and that he was desperate to ensure his future was with the Hammers.
“My main aim was to get back fit, play some games and put myself about making sure that I had a future here,” Cole added.
“That’s what I’ve done and the club has rewarded me. I can’t thank them enough.”
And Cole took to Twitter shortly after the club announced his new deal to express his delight at signing the contract and to thank the fans for their continued support.
Pleased to have signed on the dotted line. Now time to help the team progress,starting with the game this Saturday.Thanks for the support!
— Carlton Cole (@CarltonCole1) January 15, 2014
Cole’s goal at Cardiff last Saturday made him the club’s joint-second highest Premier League goal scorer with 37, along with Trevor Sinclair. He’ll now be aiming for top spot, which is currently occupied by Paolo Di Canio with 47 goals Premier League strikes.
