West Ham United striker Carlton Cole has welcomed the new strikers who have arrived.

Benni McCarthy, Mido and Ilan all were signed last week by the Hammers.

"As a striker you need to be kept on your toes so that you can produce the goods regularly," Cole told the London Evening Standard. "Now we have some good strikers, all competing with me for a place in the team. That can only be good for me and the club.

"They are all good technical players, good with the ball. Their final pass is precise and their hold-up play is excellent. That's all you want in a striking partner. Hopefully the manager will find a way to keep us all happy."

Cole's relief at having company in the front line, is palpable.

"I thought I did okay earlier in the season but sometimes I did feel I was too isolated up front," he said. "Now I have much more support. We have the foundation in place now but we need to start scoring the goals which will help us climb away from the danger area.

"I'm feeling much fitter now. I'm still searching for 100 per cent sharpness but that will come. I want to be firing on all cylinders before long because I still have those targets to reach."