Carlton Cole will start up front for West Ham United in this afternoon's Premier League clash with Sunderland while Andy Carroll continues to recover from his hamstring injury.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has another attacking option on the bench in Modibo Maiga, but is without the services of Jack Collison due to a knee problem.

Sunderland winger Adam Johnson is sidelined with a thigh injury, while Carlos Cuellar is ruled out with a hamstring strain, and Phil Bardsley and Wes Brown remain unfit.

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins, Demel, Nolan, Taylor, Noble, Diame, Cole, Vaz Te

Sunderland: Mignolet, O'Shea, Bramble, Rose, Cattermole, Larsson, Gardner, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher

Written by
Mark Langshaw