Cole's defection from Chelsea to Liverpool was seen as a major coup on Merseyside last summer, with the England midfielder tipped to form part of Roy Hodgson's plan to get one of the country's most prestigious teams back into the top four. But his Liverpool career started with a red card against Arsenal and he has struggled for form and fitness since. He has been hit by knee and hamstring injuries since his move and failed to impress on his return to action against Sparta Prague in the Europa League last night. Reds manager Kenny Dalglish still rates Cole as one of the best midfielders in the country though and Grant, who managed the Londoner during his time at Chelsea, agrees. "Joe is a very good player, a very, very nice player. He has a good spirit and is good to any team on and off the pitch," Grant said ahead of West Ham's game with Liverpool on Sunday. "I think he started well, then he had an injury, and then it was not so good for him. "Sometimes when you are injured it's not easy to come back and it was a little bit difficult for them but I am sure he will be very good for Liverpool. If not, then they can bring him to me." Hammers owners David Gold and David Sullivan made no secret of their desire to bring Cole back to Upton Park last summer. Cole came through the youth ranks at the club before being sold to Chelsea in 2003 and Grant insists the club were serious about signing him until they realised they would not be able to afford to pay his wages. "I will always want a player who plays so good," the 56-year-old said. "He belongs to Liverpool but I will always be happy if a player like this was in my team. "But everyone knows the situation in our club. We had the opportunity to take him but for West Ham it was big money." Cole will not be the only familiar face that steps off the Liverpool coach at Upton Park on Sunday. Steve Clarke spent last season as Gianfranco Zola's assistant before joining Liverpool as Dalglish's first-team coach last month. Clarke is a highly-respected figure within the game and Grant, who worked with the Scot at Stamford Bridge, thinks he has played a big role in the recent turnaround in Liverpool's fortunes. Grant said: "Steve, he is a very, very good coach on the pitch and I am sure he is doing a good job at Liverpool. "For three months before I was the manager at Chelsea, I saw that he did a good job and it was important that he stayed on when I became manager because he is good on the pitch, and in making the right training arrangements and he's very organised. "I like him, he did a good job." West Ham have been boosted by Matthew Upson's return to training from an Achilles injury that was initially feared could rule him out for the rest of the season. The Hammers captain, who is out of contract at the end of the season, came through a light workout at Upton Park on Friday just three weeks after suffering the injury against Birmingham. He is unlikely to be involved on Sunday's match but Grant is confident he will be back in action soon. Grant said: "We don't know how bad he is. "Unfortunately I am confused because we have received different opinions from different people. "We will have to wait and see. He could be out for one day or six months. "I think he will play again this season because his injury is not so bad. "He is desperate to play."
