Sam Allardyce tells West Ham favourite Joe Cole to settle down

JOE COLE has been told to shape up by Sam Allardyce if he wants to feature regularly for West Ham.

ANGRY: Joe Cole was furious at being subsituted in the 40th minute against Chelsea [GETTY]

The ex-England star was angry at being dragged off in the 40th minute of last week's humbling against his former club Chelsea and stormed down the tunnel.
Cole has since apologised and denied reports he wants to leave in January. But Allardyce has warned that there can be no repeat with the Hammers involved in a relegation battle, starting today against Fulham.

He said: "All those stories come out that 'I'm off, I'm leaving' and so on. I prefer that type of reaction, in terms of showing the frustration, not in the public eye," he said.

"That's professionalism, however frustrated, however disappointed you are. All players have to accept that if I bring them off, they have to accept it.
"They can't fragment and think it's all about them.
"It's about the whole team and everything that goes with it to achieve the right results."
With trips to Palace and Liverpool to come, Big Sam knows they need to pick up some points soon.