West Ham United striker Carlton Cole is facing for months out.

The Sun says he suffered ligament damage to his right knee during Saturday's 5-3 trouncing of Burnley and could now be out for FOUR months.

Cole clearly faces a tough fight to make Fabio Capello's England squad for South Africa next summer.

He will have to have recovered completely from the injury or he knows Capello will not even consider him.

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola revealed: "It is his right knee. He hit his knee and twisted it a little bit.

"If it's ligaments then, yes, it could be a while. But I'm not a doctor.

"Everybody knows how important Carlton is for us, so hopefully it will not prove to be too bad."