Gianfranco Zola believes Benni McCarthy will provide the firepower West Ham need following a goalless draw against Blackburn.

The Hammers lacked a finishing touch despite a second-half introduction of fit-again England striker Carlton Cole.

Zola hopes the arrival of McCarthy can add the cutting edge upfront which has been lacking.

“Benni should be available for the next game,” said Zola.

“Benni will be a threat in the last third.

“He is a player who can score goals and he will be a very good help for us.”

Zola added: “I was expecting us to create a bit more quality, but we were not able to do that.

“The tension caught us a little bit, everybody was nervous and we could not express the quality we needed to break them down.

“But I take it as a good day, because the point means we step up the table.”