Brooking won't rule out di Canio

Trevor Brooking has offered Paolo di Canio the chance to try and help save West Ham from relegation this season.

The Italian striker was frozen out by Glenn Roeder after he publicly criticised the manager and the team then went on an unbeaten run without him.

But with Roeder now recovering in hospital following a minor stroke, and Brooking installed as manager for the remaining three games, the door has opened for di Canio to make a dramatic return before the end of the season.

The Hammers travel to Manchester City on Sunday for yet another must-win clash, and di Canio is struggling with a gastric problem. But if he can prove his fitness, then Brooking insists there is a role for him to play.

Brooking once named di Canio in his all-time greatest West Ham team, although Roeder ran out of patience with the temperamental Italian.

The Hammers’ four outfield substitutes against Middlesbrough on Monday included two central defenders and no recognised striker, despite Roeder insisting di Canio had not been missing through injury in recent weeks.

But Brooking said: “The situation on Paolo is that he is not fit, he has had a gastric problem all week, I have spoken to Paolo and had a very good chat with him and he is very supportive.

“I have told him that as soon as he is fit he will come in and he will give the club every support – there are no guarantees on selection, and he is quite happy with that.

“If he can contribute for no minutes, 10 minutes or 90 minutes at any stage then a fit Paolo will contribute, but it is up to him to get fit and until that happens there is no decision to be made.

“We are trying to win three games and I am sure that at some stage, with half an hour to go, you want as many attacking options as you can get, so if Paolo is fit he can win you a game.

“No-one is guaranteed a place and Paolo accepts that, but in any case he has not been fit most of the time and therefore has not been available for selection.”

Brooking will discuss his team selection with coaches Paul Goddard and Roger Cross, and will then give his players a simple team talk.

“The message is: ’We have got to win’,” said Brooking. “To be honest, I’d prefer to be playing because then it is in your hands, but the next best thing is to try and galvanise everyone into getting the result everyone wants, but I don’t think anyone in our dressing room will need motivating.

“This is an unprecedented situation and there are three massive games ahead for the club and its future – we need three wins.

“Everyone is behind us. Eastenders are very loyal people and we tend to close ranks. The reaction over the last 48 hours has been fantastic and in the next two-and-a-half weeks we have got to do ourselves justice.

“Whatever happens in that time, the priority is for Glenn to make a full recovery and to get better – that is the number one. But we owe it to everyone who has put the work in for the last nine-and-a-half months to try and get three wins.

“Sunday’s game is crucial because if we get three points we are up and running, and we are trying to focus on that and relax the players. They have trained well, the banter is there and we have to focus on the remaining three matches.

“We have taken 15 points from the last eight matches and now we must try and take nine from the last three. I haven’t managed before but I think I know a bit about the game and I can contribute.

“No-one in the club is unaware of what is needed and we’ll do our utmost. For nine-and-a-half months it has been an uphill struggle and we want to make sure that if we go down then we have given our all.”

Brooking looks like being without key midfielders Michael Carrick and Lee Bowyer at Maine Road for his first game in charge.

Carrick is ruled out with a stomach injury while Bowyer is struggling to shake off an ankle knock. On a brighter note, Freddie Kanoute has recovered from an ankle injury and is in the squad.