West Ham now count on Carlton Cole
Cole to step in for Carroll vs Norwich
Carroll, 23, has suffered a hamstring injury that could now keep him out for as long as six weeks after he signed on a season-long loan from Liverpool and made an instant impact on his debut against Fulham.
Allardyce is likely to turn to Cole, whose father is Nigerian, to replace the former Newcastle striker when he takes his side to Norwich on Saturday and he said he wants the 28-year-old striker to show a lethal touch in front of goal.
"He is an obvious replacement and we would like Carlton to do how he finished off last season,” Allardyce said.
"He scored a hatful of goals for us and helped us get back into this lucrative Premier League so we would like him to step in and start scoring the goals he did towards the back-end of last season.
"We hope he can hit the goal-scoring trail when he gets the opportunity on Saturday."
If Cole is selected in the starting XI at Carrow Road, it will be his 150th
start for West Ham and he will be hoping to establish himself in the side
before Carroll returns from injury.
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