Stewart Downing is confident the club’s decision to bring back Carlton Cole on short-term deal will prove to be a good piece of business.
Cole was released by West Ham at the end of last season but impressed in training over the last few weeks to earn a new three-month deal running until the middle of January next year.
And Downing insists Cole is the type of player the Hammers need in order achieve their goals this season, especially while club-record signing Andy Carroll remains sidelined with a foot injury.
He told SkySports: “I’ve played with Carlton for years at England, he’s a strong boy. He certainly looked like he has been working hard, and I’ve seen that at the training ground.
“He just needs games, games like that to keep him fit. I think we need another option. Carlton can bring that.
“He can also play on the floor, as well as being good in the air, so it’s a different option for the manager. We need competition.”
Both Cole and Downing are in the frame for a place in the starting XI to face Manchester City at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday night.
