Cole honoured by captaincy role

Glenn Roeder handed the West Ham captaincy to Joe Cole on Saturday because he believes the 21-year-old has the respect of his team-mates.

With both regular skipper Paolo Di Canio and club captain Steve Lomas injured, Hammers boss Roeder needed to entrust the armband to a new leader for the trip to Middlesbrough, and he chose midfield maestro Cole for the honour.

“It was the first opportunity with Di Canio and Lomas injured to give it to Joe,” explained Roeder. “He has been playing well recently and when I spoke to him about the added responsibility his eyes his lit up and I knew he would carry it off.

“He did very well, and is respected by the squad having come through the academy ranks.”

Cole became the club’s youngest captain since Bobby Moore and rose to the challenge by scoring West Ham’s first goal in the 2-2 draw, and almost led them to a much-needed victory. He is set to keep the armband for Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

“It was the proudest day of my life,” said Cole. “It is a great honour for me to be captain. The gaffer told me on the coach, and just said ’you have got the respect of the lads and have been working hard, so you deserve it’. So I did it and thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Cole said he was not asking to be compared to Moore, but admitted his style of captaincy was similar to that of the legendary defender, in that he tried to lead by example rather than by screaming and shouting.

“I am not a shouter and a screamer,” he told the club’s website, whufc.com. “I just got on with my own game and tried to do my own things – and lead by example.

“I am not into all those comparisons, I can’t be compared to Bobby. But I am chuffed to bits, even though I am disappointed we didn’t win.”