Carlton Cole's maturity as both a player and a person has been impressive this season but it remains a work in progress for the big striker from Croydon.

His inclusion in Fabio Capello's squad for tomorrow's friendly international against Spain in Seville is a reward for Cole's improved all-round game and his recent impressive scoring ratio for his club.

The 25 year old has always had vast potential every since, as a raw teenager, he broke into Chelsea's first team.

Strong and reasonably quick for a man of 6ft 4ins tall and more than 14 stone, Cole levelled off though after an impressive start at Stamford Bridge and was loaned out to Wolves, Charlton and Aston Villa before joining West Ham, principally as a squad player, two seasons ago.

There had been times when Cole seemed to have lost his way, to have fallen out of love with his chosen profession.

But under first Alan Curbishley and now former Chelsea teammate Gianfranco Zola, Cole has rekindled his passion for the game and ultimately, impressed Capello.

Even this season though, it has not gone entirely smoothly for Cole. Back in September he was arrested in central London on suspicion of drink driving just hours after West Ham had gone out to Watford in the Carling Cup.

Zola, who had just taken over the managerial reins at Upton Park, was not impressed. But the little Sardinian knew Cole and his character from their time sharing a dressing-room for Chelsea.

It was a watershed for the striker who was told quietly but firmly by Zola that he must learn his lesson or else.

"I'm very disappointed in him," said Zola at the time. "He wasn't drunk but it was far too late. He's going to pay for it with a fine and he will learn his lesson, I'm sure of that."

Zola could have castigated Cole publically but that's not his style. Instead, following the thinly-veiled warning, the new West Ham manager lent his support to his wayward striker.

"Carlton is a much more balanced person now," he said then. "Sometimes you see a person and you can judge. I've known him for a long time. I remember him as he was when we were both at Chelsea and you can see the difference.

"He has great potential. He's quick, strong and has very good technical ability. He has everything in his bag."

To his credit, Cole seems to have heeded Zola's words and responded positively.

As West Ham and now England colleague Robert Green said: "The penny seems to have dropped for him and things have fallen into place. Now he's been called up to the England squad and this is another teaser for him in terms of his potential.

"It will be a massive learning curve for him, as it is for everyone who is in the squad, because it is another significant step up. Knowing him though, I don't think this is going to faze him at all."

Rio Ferdinand is another who believes that Cole has grown up as a player and a person.

On Sunday at Upton Park, the Manchester United defender witnessed at first hand the measure of Cole's improvement.

"He's playing for a manager who understands his football and more importantly, understands him," said Ferdinand. "In the past perhaps he was never appreciated or loved but now he feels at home. He is a player who wants to learn and do well."

While Cole is by no means certain to see any action on the pitch, it will surely benefit him to work within a set-up that Ferdinand believes is finally getting the best out of the England players.

"Under this manager it's become very apparent that it's win at all costs," said the England defender. "It is stressed to us that every time we go out there we should give our best performances.

"It's great for us. The manager demands the best, not only in the game but every day in training.

"He doesn't mess about. He hasn't been successful by being a nice guy. At any given moment he has to make big decisions and he's not afraid of doing that. Everyone is on their toes."