Carlton Cole’s career hasn’t got any better since leaving Celtic

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Celtic released former Chelsea and West Ham striker Carlton Cole after just one goal in eight months.

To anyone lamenting the lack of depth and quality in the current England set up, it feels pertinent to remind you all that, eight years ago, Carlton Cole was pulling on the Three Lions to take on European Champions Spain in Seville.

That was despite the fact that he had managed just ten goals the previous season for West Ham United. Though the former Chelsea youngster has never been the most prolific of goalscorers, as fans of Celtic will tell you.

Now, the Scottish champions may be lauded for their ability to spot a bargain and sell him on for a huge profit, see Virgil van Dijk, Gary Hooper and, one day in the near future, Moussa Dembele.

However, there has been no shortage of striking flops setting foot in Parkhead in recent seasons and it’s no exaggeration to suggest Cole is right at home alongside Amido Balde, Colin Kazim-Richards and Stefan Scepovic.

The veteran striker scored just one goal in five games north of the border, coming in a less than glamorous Scottish cup tie against Stranraer, and was released after eight months.

“I came here unfit so I have a lot of gratitude and respect for the gaffer (Ronny Deila),” Cold told the Daily Record in January 2016 after waiting four months for his first start.

“He did actually put me in quite early. It was earlier than I expected but I told him I wanted a little bit more time because I didn’t want to make a fool of myself and for everyone to start battering me.”

Nine games, zero goals

Since leaving, however, Cole’s fortunes haven’t exactly improved. He managed zero goals in four appearances for American second tier outfit Sacramento Republic and had his contract at Indonesian club Persib Bandung terminated just midway through a ten-month deal.

As it stands, that goal against Stranraer at Stair Park is his most recent in club football. And, with Cole still without a club, time will tell if it was his last.