West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is pleased to see Carlton Cole back on good form following a difficult spell in his early career.

Curbishley had taken Cole to The Valley when he was in charge of Charlton, but felt the striker then "got lost" somewhat as he looked for first-team football elsewhere.

"Carlton went to Wolves before he came to Charlton and when he turned up for us, he was not fit, he had a hip injury," Curbishley recalled.

"But he played 10 or 11 games, scored five goals and did well for us.

"I was desperate to take him for another year - but his agent and other people had different ideas on that, and he ended up going to Aston Villa.

"I knew that was going to be a mistake because he was going to live away from home.

"He got lost at Villa after only playing a few games, and then went back to Chelsea because Jose Mourinho had gone there and wanted to see all his players, but Carlton got lost again.

"Then when he came here he was lacking match fitness.

"I told him there was a bit of competition here and he needed to get himself right.

"Carlton worked hard during pre-season and got his chance and he has done well.

"His consistency was the problem, whereas now he has been given his chance."