Daniel Sturridge NOT the answer to West Ham firepower woes, says Hammers legend Cottee

West Ham must resist the urge to snap up striker Daniel Sturridge from Liverpool because of his fragility when it comes to injuries.

That’a according to Hammers legend Tony Cottee, who believes the club must recruit a new striker ahead of next season but that the Anfield hitman doesn’t fit the bill.

Cottee was the last West Ham forward to score 20 top flight league goals in a season and while the former England attacker says he believes Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho must stay at the club, he also says Sturridge shouldn’t be signed.

Three Lions star Sturridge, 27, has been linked with a switch to the London Stadium this summer after being seen as surplus to requirements by Kop manager Jurgen Klopp. He has started only one Premier League game since October and looks set to leave Merseyside come the end of the current campaign.

But Cottee, reflecting on the 0-0 draw with Stoke at the weekend, said: “We played without both Carroll and Sakho once again because of injury and this is a worrying trend. Every Premier League club needs four or five strikers during the season, but if two of those are injured as they have been for much of the season, then goals are going to be a real problem.

“I am a fan of both of them and would keep them next season, but I still think that we need to sign another top quality striker. That can’t be Daniel Sturridge, who is another who has had serious injury problems. We can’t afford another one of those, but we need to find someone who is reliable and will score 20 goals in a season.

“I am the last person to have scored 20 goals in a top-flight season for the Hammers and that was back in 1987, so it is about time we found another who can do that.”

Hammers boss Slaven Bilic, who may not be at the helm to make a decision on recruitment in the summer, is preparing his side for the vital clash at home to Tottenham on Friday.

And Cottee says he believes the game is one which will prove a real test, adding: “These games are always special against Tottenham and this has added spice as they are still going for the title. It is going to be so tough. They are our local rivals and I know the boys are going to be up for it and though it is going to be hard, I will go for a 1-1 draw.”