West Ham's Carlton Cole ruled out for six weeks
West Ham striker Carlton Cole will miss the next six weeks of the season with the groin injury he picked up playing for England.
But the good news is the 25-year-old will not need surgery on the problem, which flared up during last Saturday's Wembley friendly against Slovakia.
Cole could be struggling to play again before the end of the season, with just eight games left to play, although manager Gianfranco Zola was putting a brave face on losing his main striker.
"Fortunately he won't need an operation," said Zola.
"It's just a problem in between the muscle and the tendon in his groin so he doesn't need an operation. He should be available in six weeks. That's what I have been told."
Cole has scored 11 goals in 30 appearances this season and has blossomed under Zola's guidance, forcing his way into Fabio Capello's England squad.
His absence for most of the Premier League run-in will be a blow as the Irons look to secure European football next season.
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