Injury hit Hammers promise Spurs ‘full blooded’ battle
Winger Matthew Etherington was taken to hospital for an X-ray after rolling his ankle in training and Pardew rates him “really doubtful” for next Saturday’s final against Liverpool.
West Ham have already lost influential midfielder Hayden Mullins to suspension while £7.25million striker Dean Ashton will spend the week undergoing treatment in an oxygen tent as he battles to overcome a hamstring injury.
But Pardew is determined to stay bold. He will name a full-strength side and challenged West Ham to end an impressive league campaign with a “full-blooded” performance against Spurs – just the news Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger wanted to hear. Tottenham need a win at Upton Park to beat Arsenal into fourth place and open up the chance of Champions League football next season.
Pardew explained: “Arsenal and Tottenham can take care of themselves — there’s a lot riding on this for us. If we win, we can finish eighth and that’s important for us. We want to finish the season with our fans rocking and rolling in the aisles.
“There is concern about people not putting everything into the game with the cup final so close, but my view on it is that we have to be professional.
“We have to attack the game full-blooded and hope everything goes OK. I don’t doubt my players on that front. I haven’t done all season and I won’t start now.
“People want to play in the cup final and they have to produce for me in order to secure their place. That’s a factor which people forget.”
Pardew has been impressed with the way Martin Jol has developed Spurs into European contenders.
Pardew has had harsh words this season for clubs he believes have neglected their responsibility of developing young English talent.
He was particularly critical after Real Madrid fielded more Englishmen than Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final.
“If Tottenham get the Champions League place then it will be on merit because they’ve been around fourth place all season,” said Pardew.
“They have a lot of English-based players and it’s nice there’s some of that talent coming through.
“Middlesbrough have done it as well, and there are people like Stewart Downing and Anton Ferdinand coming through who can make a mark straight away.”
Pardew’s real concern is over Etherington. Initial assessments indicated there was no break, but West Ham were waiting anxiously last night on news of the scan.
“We’ve had a shock,” admitted Pardew.
“Matty took a really bad knock We think the X-ray is clear but he’s still really doubtful, not just for Sunday but for the cup final and that’s bad news.
“It is a really bad blow. The whole squad is disappointed Matty has this injury.”
West Ham’s luck, which has held all season, is deserting them on the home straight.
Mullins was sent off against Liverpool last week for a scuffle with Luis Garcia and Ashton then limped out of Monday’s 1-0 win at West Brom with hamstring damage.
It is only a grade one injury but Pardew will not know until Thursday whether his record signing will be fit for the cup final.
“We won’t really know how he is until he starts jogging,” said Pardew.
“But there is a strong chance he will play.”
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