Hammers told to aim for World Cup

Alan Pardew has challenged Matthew Etherington and West Ham’s clutch of rising stars to aim for a place in England’s World Cup squad.

England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who this week revealed three places in his World Cup squad remain up for grabs, will be at Upton Park tomorrow for West Ham’s Barclays Premiership clash with Newcastle – and Pardew has marked his card.

Paul Konchesky started for England against Argentina, Eriksson this week mentioned Nigel Reo-Coker in dispatches while Pardew believes both Anton Ferdinand and Etherington should both be aiming for Germany 2006.

It is never forgotten around east London that England’s 1966 side contained three West Ham players – and Pardew encourages his men to believe history can be repeated.

“I tell all my players to set themselves goals that some people might think are unachievable and see where it takes them,” said Pardew.

“I have said to my players: ’Don’t give up hope of going to the World Cup’. Mattie, Anton, Nigel, Paul – they have all got a shout.

“We should be flattered by Sven’s words. It is an indication of the performances we have been putting in.”

Konchesky seems to have the best chance of making the final cut, especially with doubts over the fitness of Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge. Reo-Coker is still out injured and Ferdinand may have too many big name centre-backs ahead of him.

It would certainly be a surprise if Etherington broke into the England squad at such a late stage – but Martin Peters did it in 1966 and Pardew’s philosophy this season has been to challenge his squad to aim for the top.

Etherington hit form as the Hammers secured six points from three consecutive away games. The 24-year-old tormented Everton on Wednesday night and created what proved to be the winning goal for Bobby Zamora.

“In the last three games he has been right up there in our top three players,” said Pardew.

“He started the season slowly. He is a thinker about his game and his big problem is that he is worrying about his performances too much.

“But where he is now is in a good, confident place and when he is like that he is very difficult to stop.

“He is only a young boy but if those three performances are anything to go by and, with the problems England have on the left side, then he has to be considered.”

Pardew’s no-fear policy has served the club well. The motivational quotes that adorn the club training ground are clearly working.

West Ham, promoted via the play-offs last year, could find themselves fifth at Christmas if the results go the right way this weekend.

“Every game is an adventure for us and that is the way we are treating it,” said Pardew.

“I would be lying to you if I said I honestly believed we would go and do what we are doing. You always have different thoughts and so far we are at the top end of that scale.

“The players must take a lot of credit. We are putting the gameplan together but it is extremely important they execute that – and they are doing so.

“You can’t just rely on physicality in the top flight and we have matched teams for technical quality.”

That quality is likely to be tested to the full tomorrow, when West Ham’s rookie defensive partnership of Ferdinand and James Collins square up against Michael Owen and Alan Shearer.

Collins started his first Premiership game against Everton on Wednesday - Danny Gabbidon is out with a nasty gash to the knee – and Ferdinand is confident they will be able to keep the Newcastle pair quiet.

“This is the first time I will have played against Owen. He is one of the best strikers in the world and one I have watched since I saw him at the World Cup in 1998,” said Ferdinand.

“Shearer and Owen are complete opposites so you have to adjust your game, but that is part of playing in the top flight. I am sure me and James Collins will have a good understanding of what we have to do.”

Ferdinand believes he responds well to the kind of challenges Pardew lays down. The talk of challenging for an England place and the presence of Eriksson in the crowd tomorrow will not faze the 22-year-old.

“I will go into this game as I do every game – with positive thoughts in my head believing I can play well and try to keep them out. That’s how I go into every game,” he said.

“If you are thinking you will get beaten, there is no point going out on the pitch, you might as well give in then. And that is not my nature.”