Sheringham: No plans to retire

Teddy Sheringham has delayed plans of retirement and wants to lead a West Ham attack bolstered by the arrival of Petr Mikolanda.

Mikolanda, the 20-year-old Czech Republic Under-21 striker, impressed during a pre-season trial at Upton Park and will be competing with Sheringham for a starting berth.

Hammers boss Alan Pardew is set to continue his search for more firepower, but veteran striker Sheringham is relishing his return to the Barclays Premiership.

The 39-year-old former England striker, who will turn 40 before the end of the campaign, said: “While I can still do it I will. I am not thinking of stopping yet.

“Why am I playing on? Probably because I don’t fancy having grey hair just yet. That’s what makes me carry on.

“I enjoy it but as soon as you come out of playing it is a stressful time and it is 24 hours a day. People ask me if I will be a manager or coach and that is possible in time but not now. It is too stressful.

“I think our manager Alan Pardew is coping very well but I don’t want what he has got. Maybe in time but not yet.”

Sheringham won a Champions League with Manchester United and enjoyed spells at Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Millwall and Portsmouth – and he is confident of keeping West Ham in the top division.

He could start against Blackburn on Saturday on the opening day of the Premiership season.

He added: “I think everybody is optimistic. It feels like a new challenge for everybody concerned. We had a good finish to last season and obviously a good pre-season now. We feel optimistic we can go into a new season and start well.

“For me the top flight is the only place to play. It is where all the business is. So, of course, it is fantastic to be back.

“Can I still play a full part at this level? You are asking the wrong man. You should ask the manager, but I am looking forward to it.”

Pardew has confidence in his striker, adding: “Last season we went through a process of trying to play Ted every week towards the back-end until he got a bad injury at Brighton which could have been very costly for us.

“He was playing terrific at the time and I think we just managed it well – or at least to a certain extent. But the injury is something we will reflect on and learn lessons from. We will make sure Ted is looked after.

“He has got a terrific staff around him and sometimes it is not just how hard you work but how well you recover. So we will make sure Ted gets plenty of rest along the way – somewhere like the Bahamas.”

Mikolanda is eager to play with Sheringham, one of his heroes growing up, adding on official website www.whufc.co.uk: “I am very happy to have signed at West Ham. Teddy Sheringham was my hero when I was growing up. I remember watching his goal against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

“I never dreamed that I would meet him, let alone be training alongside him.”