Exciting young playmaker who, like his close friend Michael Carrick, will be hoping that he can make an even bigger impact on the Premiership in the 2001-02 campaign.

The two midfield starlets saw their careers travel along a similar path last season, as they both cemented their places in the Hammers first team, gained experience with the England Under-21 side and then broke into the senior squad together in February, before making their full debuts alongside each other in Sven-Goran Eriksson's side as substitutes against Mexico at the end of the season - after being placed on the shortlist for the PFA Young Player of the Year award!

Joe will now be hoping to be involved regularly with the full squad from now on, although breaking into Eriksson's starting line-up as a central midfielder may prove difficult and it could be as a left-sided midfielder that he finds a way in.

Manager Glenn Roeder has already expressed his view that the Islington-born youngster may be at his most dangerous cutting in from the flank but, whatever happens, it is highly likely that Cole will provide the focal point of Roeder's team.