Stoke's Etherington: Cole can rescue West Ham

Stoke City winger Matthew Etherington says former teammate Carlton Cole is the man to rescue West Ham United.

Etherington is dismayed to see his former club in the relegation zone after a run of six Premier League games without a win since their opening-day triumph at Wolves.

Cole has scored four of the Hammers' eight Premier League goals this season and Etherington said: "If they don't have Carlton Cole in the team you struggle to see where they are going to get the goals from.

"He is massive to them, absolutely massive. I have seen his qualities since Gianfranco Zola has taken over. The manager has spent a lot of time on him - he saw what a good player Cole could be.

"Cole is getting his reward with England recognition and now being a massive presence for the team. He needed an arm around him. If you watch him in training, he is such a handful and on his day he is unplayable.

"He is strong and quick and can put the ball into the back of the net. He just needed someone to give him confidence.

"When I was there Coley was always there staying back after training and working with the manager.

"It looks like he will be going to the World Cup finals next summer and you have to give Zola credit for some of that because of the work he has put into him. He has transformed him.''