Quashie increases Hammers' options

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley hopes that increased competition for places will help dig his team out of trouble in the Barclays Premiership.

Curbishley completed his second signing of the January transfer window last night when he captured Scotland midfielder Nigel Quashie, 28, from West Brom in a deal that could be worth £1.75m (€2.6m).