Carlton Cole: 'Dubai training has helped West Ham United'

West Ham United striker Carlton Cole has claimed that the team's recent trip to Dubai will serve them well for the remainder of the season.

The Hammers, who have won their last three games in the Premier League, enjoyed some warm-weather training last week due to their lack of participation in the FA Cup.

"It was a much-needed break for us," Cole told the club's official website. "I think we deserved it too with our run of form, to regroup and try and get refreshed for the hard games we've got coming up.

"It is important that we went out there to get some warm weather training. It wasn't a jolly-up, we went out there to work."

West Ham return to Premier League action on Saturday when they welcome Southampton to Upton Park.