West Ham striker Carlton Cole is likely to be out of action for up to two weeks after he sprained his ankle in his side’s 1-1 FA Cup draw against Middlesbrough on Sunday.
Cole limped off after thirty three minutes against Boro and was replaced by former Deportivo forward Diego Tristan. It was feared that Cole, who made his international debut against Spain last week, had suffered a fracture, but X-Rays have revealed that the problem is not that serious as first made out to be.
Cole will miss West Ham’s Premier League games against Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City as well as their fifth round FA Cup replay against Middlesbrough.
With Dean Ashton ruled out till the end of the season, and Luis Boa Morte’s groin injury keeping him out of action for the next month, manager Gianfranco Zola could probably ask Tristan to play upfront with David di Michele. He could also give winter signing Savio Nsereko a start or two.
Cole was in excellent form for the Hammers in December and January, netting five times in as many games.