Stewart Downing
Downing has hailed Cole's return.

West Ham United winger Stewart Downing is delighted at the return of Carlton Cole to Upton Park after the forward penned a three-month deal.

With Andy Carroll continuing to recover from a foot problem the Hammers have signed both Mladen Petric and Cole on temporary deals to help ease their striker shortage.

Cole, who scored 59 goals in 237 games for West Ham during six years at the club, was released in the summer but answered manager Sam Allardyce's call for his return and Downing - a summer recruit from Liverpool - is thrilled with the addition.

"He certainly looked good to me," Downing said, after questions were asked about Cole's fitness.

"I've played with Carlton for years at England, he's a strong boy. He certainly looked like he has been working hard, and I've seen that at the training ground.

"I think he just needs games, games like that to get him fit. I think we needed another option. Carlton can bring that.

"He can also play on the floor, as well as being good in the air, so it's a different option for the manager. We need competition."

Modibo Maiga was the only recognised West Ham forward at the start of the season after Carroll, while recovering from a heel problem suffered on the final day of last term, suffered a further foot injury.

His expected return is still to be established, forcing West Ham to return for Cole to help solve their crisis in attack.

The Hammers scored just four goals in their opening six league games before the 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane prior to the international break.

And upon the return of the Premier League this weekend, where West Ham travel to Manchester City, goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen says the squad are in good spirits.

"Spurs was a great win at a great time because we were drifting towards that bottom three and we didn't want to stay there for long," Jaaskelainen said.

"We need to keep going, but if you look at the Man City game, if we can get anything out of that then it could be a turning point for us and make it a decent start because at the moment it is an iffy start.

"Playing-wise we have done very well, but we have just been missing a little bit of luck and maybe one or two decisions have gone against us."