Carlton Cole, the former Chelsea and West Ham striker, has returned to England after his brief stint with the Sacramento Republic ended.

The 33-year-old played just four matches - totalling 101 minutes - at his time at the United Soccer League club, without scoring a goal.

Cole was looking to regain his match fitness after suffering a knee injury at previous club Celtic.

After Sacramento's play-off run came to a premature end, Cole has now gone to his homeland to seek further career opportunities - but a return to the California club is not out of the question.