Football
30 July 2010
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| Carlton Cole |
Hammers reunion in the Potteries on the cards?
By Dave Smith
Matthew Etherington rates Carlton Cole as 'one of the best strikers in the Premier League' and would love the West Ham man to join him at Stoke.
Etherington, of course, is a former Hammer who has turned his career around in the Potteries after battling with gambling addiction.
He reckons the signing of Cole certainly wouldn't be a gamble and Tony Pulis continues to pursue his main transfer target.
Etherington says: "If West Ham are willing to let him go, it would be a good move for him to come here.
"Given the ideas the manager has and the way the club want to push forward, I'd definitely recommend it.
"Coley is a London boy, he's got a young kid and is settled down there, but he has been this way before on loan at Aston Villa and Wolves. It wouldn't be a problem for him living up here, just as it hasn't been for me."
Etherington, who moved from West Ham 18 months ago and won Stoke's player-of-the-year award in May, added: "I would tell him it was the best move I could have made. It has helped me no end in pushing my career on.
"On his day, he's one of the best strikers in the Premier League. When he's on it, he's unbelievable - and I've witnessed that first hand at West Ham.
"When Gianfranco Zola came in as manager, he gave him a lot of confidence and it got him his England call-ups.
"He's one of those players you've got to put an arm around and tell him how good he is to give him confidence. But a fully-fit Carlton Cole would be a massive asset for Stoke.