After signing a new long-term deal with West Ham, striker Carlton Cole has revealed how manager Gianfranco Zola's faith in him helped him commit to the club for the next five years.

"I am very pleased to sign," said Cole.

"It is nice that I can just focus on playing good football for the club. I know now I am here for quite a while so it is time to knuckle down. The manager has 100 percent faith in me and I have got 100 percent faith in him and our team as well.

"It is good that I have got this opportunity to show West Ham supporters, and prove to myself, that I can be a big part of the prospects to come.

"We are playing some good football, the results are starting to turn in our favour and the only way is up from now. Hopefully the manager can get the team where he wants us to be and I reckon we will do really well."