Ex Hammer star Carlton Cole has failed a fitness test at the club’s training ground at Chadwell Heath which means his sensational return to the Boleyn Ground has gone pear shaped.
29 year old Cole, who left the club at the end of last season and was set for a dramatic return to the Hammers, but has failed a fitness test.
Hammers’ first team coach Ian Hendon spoke to The Daily Mail: “The medical staff do all their assessments. We’ve got all these physical stats from last year and he’s let himself go a little bit. It’s up to Carlton Cole now to prove his fitness.”
Sources close to West Ham United have said that Carlton Cole will train with the club in a bid to get his fitness levels up again. This comes as a blow to Allardyce’s team as the Hammers have been very unlucky lately in the striker department along with the failures to sign a decent forward in the summer transfer window.
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan’s son Jack tweeted: “We are also looking at other non-contract players.” This comes as no surprise as the Hammers have limited firing ability with Andy Carroll, Modibo Maiga and Ricardo Vaz Te as the club’s only senior forwards.
Failure to sign another forward came as a huge blow to the manager with striker Andy Carroll currently out injured. Ian Hendon went on: “We’re hopeful that he may play a part in the Southampton game. He’s training hard and we’re hopeful but It’s not definite yet. We want him back as soon as possible but we don’t want to risk anymore setbacks. He’s in good hands with the medical staff.”
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