GIANFRANCO Zola has a busy fortnight ahead of him.

Just a week after claiming West Ham’s big names will be staying put, the Irons’ boss now faces the unenviable task of trying to find a new striker before the transfer window closes on February 2, after Craig Bellamy defected to Manchester City in a £14million deal.

After seeing the club rise to eighth in the Premier League, taking their unbeaten run of games to five with a convincing 3-1 win over Fulham last week, the Italian will wish for nothing more than to focus on what is now a realistic hunt for European football.

Such an achievement would be heralded as a huge triumph in his debut season in the Upton Park hot seat, given the turbulent period the team have endured off the pitch.

But preparation for key league matches with Hull City and Arsenal, as well as an FA Cup fourth round tie at Hartlepool, will be hampered by the necessity to find a new strike partner for Carlton Cole.

Zola has been given assurances by the West Ham board that the proceeds from the Bellamy deal will be donated to the transfer kitty, although time is running out if he is to put those funds to good use.

“Yes (I will get the money). We’re looking for something and we will find something, but I want to talk about the players I have, not the players I haven’t got,” the Italian said after Sunday’s win.

Indeed, those players made light of their star striker’s absence at the weekend, prompting a chorus of ‘who needs Craig Bellamy’ from the Hammers faithful.

But Zola will know that there will be stiffer challenges facing West Ham’s attack than the gifts handed to them by an uncharacteristically generous Fulham backline.

While they will be expected to dispose of Hartlepool on Saturday and overcome an out-of-sorts Hull at the Boleyn Ground next week, a trip to the Emirates, followed by a home clash with defending champions Manchester United, will prove an altogether tougher examination of the club’s attacking options.

With Dean Ashton ruled out until March at the earliest with an ankle injury, David Di Michele, Diego Tristan and Freddie Sears will be asked to support Cole in prolonging the club’s impressive recent scoring record, although all three are severely lacking in minutes on the pitch.