FORMER West Ham winger Matthew Etherington has urged Stoke City boss Tony Pulis to sign ex-team-mate Carlton Cole.

The Hammers' leading scorer last season has been strongly linked with an £8m move to the Potters, and Etherington insists Cole would come with his strong recommendation.

“If West Ham are willing to let him go, it would be a good move for him to come here,” Etherington told the Sentinel.

“Given the ideas the manager has and the way the club want to push forward, I'd definitely recommend it.

Coley is a London boy, he's got a young kid and is settled down there, but he has been this way before on loan at Aston Villa and Wolves.

“It wouldn't be a problem for him living up here, just as it hasn't been for me.

“I would tell him it was the best move I could have made. It has helped me no end in pushing my career on.

“I have been in touch with him this summer by text, just more or less to say 'how are you?' He's one of those who's a bit elusive is Coley.

“On his day he's one of the best strikers in the Premier League. When he's on it, he's unbelievable, and I've witnessed that first hand at West Ham.

“When Gianfranco Zola came in as manager, he gave him a lot of confidence and it got him his England call-ups.

“He's one of those players you've got to put an arm around and tell him how good he is to give him confidence.

“But a fully fit Carlton Cole would be a massive asset for Stoke.”