Cole signs long-term Hammers deal

Striker Carlton Cole has signed a new five-year contract with West Ham.

The 25-year-old, who joined the club from London rivals Chelsea in July 2006, said: "I am here for quite a while so it is time to knuckle down.

"The manager has 100% faith in me and I have 100% faith in him and our team. Hopefully, the manager can get the team where he wants us to be."

Cole has scored four goals in 12 games this season, making him West Ham's leading scorer.

He has benefited from the injury-enforced absence of England striker Dean Ashton to be a regular this season.

The club's chief executive officer Scott Duxbury said: "I am delighted Carlton has committed his long-term future to the club.

"He is a major part of Gianfranco Zola's plans and he deserves this new deal for his continued good form and dedication to the West Ham United cause.

"This news underlines that as a club we are thinking only of moving forward and are on a sound financial footing."