GIANFRANCO Zola is in need of an emergency supply of ammunition if his West Ham team are to fire their way past a struggling Blackburn Rovers side on Saturday.

The Hammers’ boss was without his heavy artillery during Monday’s goalless draw against West Brom, and as a result, his depleted ranks struggled to penetrate the opposition’s defences.

The absence of striker Carlton Cole through suspension, and midfielders Jack Collison and Valon Behrami through injury left a massive void in the team’s attacking unit, that the raw talent of Freddie Sears and Savio Nsereko were incapable of filling.

Zola conceded as much after the game, and admitted he was faced with a conundrum ahead of this week’s clash with Rovers.

“The lack of strength in depth didn’t help us (against West Brom). We weren’t the same team we have been recently,” said Zola.

“We all know how important he (Cole) is for this team. We’re not going to have him for the next game and I have to deal with that. I have to find a solution and make it work. When he’s back it will be big for us.”

Zola handed exciting forward Junior Stanislas his West Ham debut against the Baggies in an attempt to inject some attacking impetus, preferring him to the club’s premier bench-warmer Diego Tristan, who himself has just recovered from a muscular injury.

Sears is likely to retain his place up front alongside David Di Michele, but Zola urged former Spain international Tristan to prove that he deserves to be considered for a place in the starting XI.

“It will be a big week for him (Tristan). It depends how well he does in training and if he makes me see that he’s in good shape then I will play him.”

Zola also poured water on the suggestion that he would seek to recall a number of the club’s players who are out on loan to provide necessary cover to what is a shallow squad.

“We’ll see what we can do about that. We’ll hopefully have some players coming back from injury in the next few weeks as well. Right now it’s difficult to say anything.”