Rio: Good luck Joe, but not tonight
Cole and Ferdinand used to be team-mates in a Hammers squad that also spawned Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe.
All five went on to enjoy success elsewhere, whilst West Ham twice lost their top-flight status in 2003 and 2011. Now Cole is looking to rebuild himself though, accepting Sam Allardyce’s offer of a six-month loan period to escape the difficulties he was experiencing at Liverpool.
And though there will be no sentiment on show at Old Trafford this evening when Manchester United look to dump West Ham out of the FA Cup, Ferdinand is hopeful Cole will prove to be an inspirational signing.
“The era we had there will be part of West Ham’s history forever now, with so many players who went on to play for England and win league titles with other clubs,” said Ferdinand.
“It is unfortunate for West Ham those players did not stay there and their presence get built upon.
“That is all history now I suppose. But Joe Cole has gone there to rewrite a bit of his own history in the coming months.
“It would be good to see him do something positive, but not this week. We want to get through this round.”
After grinding his way through the full 90 minutes of United’s Premier League victory over Liverpool on Sunday, Ferdinand seems unlikely to be risked tonight with a vital trip to Tottenham looming at the weekend.
Skipper Nemanja Vidic is expected to sit the game out too, as is Johnny Evans, who is nursing a hamstring strain. Ashley Young is kept out by a knee injury, even if Alex Ferguson has confirmed the damage sustained in a collision with Daniel Agger is not as bad as first feared.
“Young has got a dull knock, a little bit of a strain on the knee, but it’s nothing serious,” Ferguson said.
“I think he’ll be back next week. Maybe not for Tottenham but, the week after, he should be okay.”
On the positive side, Wayne Rooney and Nani are set to return after their absences. Rooney has not been seen since suffering a knee injury during training on Christmas Day.
“Wayne coming back is good news,” said Ferguson. “He’s been training for a week and looking good.”
Nani has been out for over two months and with speculation about his future beyond the end of the season remaining intense, he also needs to make an impact following a brief break in Dubai.
“Nani came back from his spell abroad and is really looking very good,” said Ferguson.
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is facing a defensive dilemma of his own. James Collins’ hamstring injury suffered in a 3-0 loss at Sunderland means Guy Demel, James Tomkins and Winston Reid are the only front-line defenders available.
“It’s less than the bare bones at the moment,” said Allardyce.
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