BOA MORTE READY TO END INJURY HELL

LUIS BOA MORTE will return to West Ham on Monday for the first time since suffering a career-threatening injury during the pre-season tour to China.

The 31-year-old Portugal star sustained cruciate ligament damage in the 1-0 friendly defeat against Spurs at the Asia Cup in July.

He has been undergoing extensive warm-weather rehabilitation in his home country in a bid to be fit for spring.

Boa Morte has now targeted the clash with Stoke on March 27 for a comeback having feared he may never play again.

Team-mate Carlton Cole says the takeover talk at the club is not distracting the players. And he insists they are determined to avoid a relegation dogfight this season.

West Ham have got off to a faltering start on the pitch while, off it, speculation continues to surround the long-term ownership of the club.

Former Birmingham supremos David Sullivan and David Gold are being strongly linked with a move to buy the club with the Icelandic owners looking for a way out of Upton Park. But Cole said: "The takeover talk is not affecting the players. We are doing everything we can to help the club get out of this situation.

"The banter is still there in the dressing room and we really need to start getting results now. I definitely feel we can get out of this situation.

"We have faced this kind of thing before. We need to keep our heads held high and keep plugging away."

• ZOLA'S WAGES NIGHTMARE AT WEST HAM

This article has 0 comments