Zola has admitted Cole was not fit when he joined the England squad

West Ham striker Carlton Cole has been ruled out for six weeks because of the groin injury he aggravated in England's friendly win over Slovakia.

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola says Cole was not fully fit for the game but he did not want to deny him the chance to play for his country.

"He will not need surgery but there is a problem between the muscle and the tendon in his groin," said Zola.

Cole joins Dean Ashton, Valon Behrami and Jack Collison on the injury list.

606: DEBATE Should Zola consider a loan or free agent, just until the end of the season, to help secure the chances of European football? Welovethehammers!

His injury could hardly come at a worse time, as with eight games to go, West Ham are eighth in the Premier League and still in the hunt for a European place.

Cole has recently broken into the England side and is also his club's top scorer this season with 11 goals.

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