Carlton Cole is stepping up his pre-season work having returned to action in a West Ham United shirt.
The England striker is set to travel with the rest of the squad for Wednesday's match away to FC Copenhagen having made his first appearance of the pre-season in last week's match with FC Basel. He looked more than lively and Cole is more than prepared to cope with the rigours of a lengthy Championship campaign.
"I am feeling positive," he told whufc.com. "I have been doing some work on my own as well as with the rest of the team out in our training camp in Switzerland. I then came on in our game on Wednesday and it was good to play. I feel good and strong."
Cole, who is the club's second longest-serving player, is renowned as one of the hardest workers at Chadwell Heath and usually among the last to leave at the end of the day. While speculation remains over the future of the club's England players, with Premier League sides constantly linked with approaches - Cole is focused only on the task at hand.
The 27-year-old, who played 43 times last season, scoring eleven goals, added: "I am as committed to West Ham as always. I am a West Ham player and have no knowledge that is going to be any different. Unless I am told something different, I am a West Ham player and will be doing my all for the team.
"There has been a lot of things reported and that it was a done deal that I was moving to another club, but that is not the case and I want our fans to know, unless I am told anything different, I am as committed as ever to the team and getting the club back in the Premier League."