Carlton Cole has confirmed that he’s back training with West Ham.
Carlton Cole has told the West Ham official website that he has returned to the club to keep himself fit until January.
Cole, 33, is a free agent having left American side Sacramento Republic last month, playing just four games the USL outfit before terminating his contract.
Former Celtic striker Carlton Cole
As he became a free agent outside of the transfer window, Cole can’t join another club until the January transfer window opens, leaving him in limbo for two months.
Cole will have been hoping to keep himself fit ahead of January, and now it has emerged that he has returned to former club West Ham United.
Cole enjoyed two spells with the Hammers, spending seven seasons with the club in his first spell, and just months after being released in the summer of 2013, Cole returned until the summer of 2015.
Carlton Cole during his time at West Ham
With a total of 68 goals in 293 games for West Ham, Cole had a one-in-four goal record for the club, before an unsuccessful stint with Celtic last season.
Now without a club again, Cole has told West Ham’s official website that Hammers boss Slaven Bilic has allowed him to train with the club until January, adding that it’s nice to be back at West Ham over a year after his second exit.
Carlton Cole in action for West Ham against Aston Villa’s Nathan Baker
Even with West Ham’s striking problems this season, a third deal with the Hammers looks unlikely for Cole, and he acknowledged just he’s just trying to keep himself fit at the moment.
“It is nice to be back at West Ham and I am just trying to keep myself fit,” said Cole. “It is the end of the season in the America and I want to keep ticking over and plan to be here for a couple of months. The gaffer has allowed me to stay over and use the facilities and train with the team until January.”
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