Carling Cup options narrow for Curbishley

West Ham manager Alan Curbishley has just one forward available for tomorrow’s Carling Cup fourth-round tie at Coventry.

Craig Bellamy is ruled out after picking up an abdominal strain in the 0-0 Premier League draw at Portsmouth on Saturday, while Henri Camara is cup-tied after playing for Wigan and Dean Ashton and Bobby Zamora are long-term casualties.

That leaves Curbishley – still without midfielders Scott Parker and Julien Faubert – with little option but to play Carlton Cole as a lone forward against Iain Dowie’s Coca-Cola Championship side.

Squad (from): Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, Ferdinand, McCartney, Ljungberg, Bowyer, Mullins, Noble, Etherington, Boa Morte, Cole, Wright, Collins, Quashie, Spector, Pantsil, Reid.