EVERYONE who knows Carlton Cole always say the same thing. That he's a really good bloke.

This is one Premier League footballer who doesn't believe the world revolves around him. He does charity work, not to get his face in the papers, but because he wants to. He is not someone who would ever advertise for a private butler, let's put it that way.

He is also no Marco van Basten and would never claim to be. He's just okay. Cole, now 31, did not become the player everyone hoped he would be when he scored on his debut for Chelsea some 13 years ago.

"I've never coached a young player like Carlton," said Claudio Renieri, then manager at Stamford Bridge. "He's fantastic even though he hasn't really started his career yet. He has a very long contract, and, in my opinion, a very big future at Chelsea."

A broken leg did not help, but Cole was instead to become a reliable front-man for West Ham United who he joined in 2006 after playing a minor role in Chelsea's first league title success under Jose Mourinho.

Cole has never been prolific. The most goals he ever scored in a single season was 15 and that was when West Ham were in the Championship, but the supporters in east London, who know a footballer when they see one, always liked the big guy because of his attitude, professionalism and the fact he is a rounded human being.

The one black mark came about on Twitter, he has well over 100,000 followers, when he responded to a message from Tottenham Stuart Hardy that said: “Hi @CarltonCole1 when your own team-mates don’t kick the ball out when you’re lying injured for 2 mins, you think it’s time to call it a day?”

Cole replied: “F off you c***,” before later deleting the tweet. He was fined for that. He didn't use asterisks, by the way.

Ronny Deila spoke on Sunday after the Dundee game about Cole's leadership and personality that would be useful to hang about the place. He might be onto something there.

Former West Ham striker Tony Cottee is one who has always been a fan. When a deadline day move to West Brom for Cole didn't happen in January, the-then Hammers boss Sam Allardyce put a stop to it, the Upon Park legend felt the need to speak out.

Cottee said: "All I can say is that I feel really sorry for Carlton Cole and the way he was treated on Monday. Carlton has been a great servant to the club.

"He always gives 100 per cent to West Ham, he took a pay-cut to stay at Upton Park and battle to get the team promoted again after relegation.

"He deserved better than sitting in the canteen at West Brom waiting for a deal for Emmanuel Adebayor to go through so that he could sign for the Baggies and I am glad that deal did not go through.

"I really can’t see what more Adebayor can bring to West Ham that Cole can’t and Cole is a great man to have in the dressing room."

Cole's mother is from Sierra Leone and this year he has raised funds for Football Fighting Ebola, the virus has devastated the country. He is an ambassador for the Sierra Leone Partnership.

Earlier this year, Cole said: "It’s not just about right now. It’s about the future for Sierra Leone, too. To help get the country back on its feet and try to move on.

"My mother and I already have a foundation, Carlakka, which is helping to build a school. But there are so many kids who have been left without parents, so now we’re going to try to build an orphanage.

“Everybody in football is privileged because they are seen all over the world, which gives us a platform to help. I’ve always had this head on me. I have always wanted to make a difference.

"That’s either in you or it’s not – you can’t force it – and that’s my attitude to life. It is my mum’s country, and therefore my family’s country. So one day I will start doing more stuff over there. But that’s not to think about just now. That one’s for the future.”

Fair play to him.

But for all that is a good guy, is Cole, who is training with Celtic with a deal perhaps in the offering, what Deila needs at the moment?

The 4-2-3-1 system in which the Norwegian uses in every game has room for only one natural striker. Right now that is Leigh Griffiths with Nadir Ciftci next in line, although it is far from inconceivable these two can play together.

Anthony Stokes was on the bench on Sunday, but Deila has had it with the Irishman who has talent which will forever be unfulfilled.

This leaves Celtic with Cole, a genuine target-man, which the manager likes, and someone who will indeed bring experience and leadership to the dressing room. No bad thing.

But would the Englishman accept being No3 striker if he does agree to leave London, which is no guarantee.

After his move to West Brom collapsed, Cole hardly kicked a ball for the rest of that season and this infuriated him. There is a risk that might happen at Celtic.

He's not available for Europe, if he was the move would make more sense, but as he is a free agent and doesn't come with any baggage, then this is probably worth a risk.

At the end of last season, Cole said. “I feel I do have a lot to offer any team who takes me on, and experience as well given I have been playing in the Premier League for over 10 years."