West Ham United striker Carlton Cole admits manager Sam Allardyce has told him to find a nasty streak.

Allardyce has ordered the 6ft 3in powerhouse into the gym and to drop the perma-grin and become more aggressive in the box.

Cole confessed to The Sun: "I've not been a softie but I've been a bit nice.

"This season the boss has got a different attitude and wants me to be more aggressive, so I'm doing extra strength work. It's not in my nature to be mean and aggressive, that's why I struggled a while back to be like that.

"I've started doing special training to make me sturdier on the pitch. I've been strengthening my core and it's been a main factor in me trying to be stronger on the pitch.

"I've got a big frame and I'm trying to be meaner. It's difficult because I get a lot of fouls given against me.

"The manager has picked up on it. It's nothing malicious, I'm just trying to be strong.

"You can be more aggressive but you have to control it."