Carlton Cole has returned to training to boost West Ham United's survival chances.

Cole is back for tonight's clash with struggling Portsmouth after the England forward recovered from his knee injury.

"Tomorrow he might be on the bench," said Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola. "He's been training with me today and he looks okay.

"That's very positive news. It's a big lift for everybody having him back. It's like a new signing, a massive thing for us. He's an important player. But the whole team look very good for me at the moment.

"All the players in this club are very much committed to what we're doing.

"They were feeling the uncertainty with the speculation around the club. But we're now owned by people who want to keep everybody at the club and are trying to strengthen it.

"It is very good for the morale of everybody. I knew there were some problems but I was confident that everything was going to be all right. I'm a positive man."