Johnson On Duty

Young defender Glen Johnson stepped off a plane from the States on wednesday after the young Hammers' return from Dallas - and made a quick dash, after an hour or two of kip, to the north for England U16 duty.

"I hope to qualify," he says of his involvement in the U16 european championships.

"We have Italy first, then Hungary, then Switzerland - then, hopefully, it's the quarters and the semis."

Of the Dallas cup experience, which saw the Hammers lose one and draw two, he says:

"Although we had a younger side we should have done better."

Of his season, he says:

"I thought I was doing OK but then I had the hernia operation.

"I hope I stay fit and that the hernia thing settles down."

Glen has been compared in some quarters to Rio Ferdinand but he insists:

"I don't take any notice of it, I just keep playing the way I do.

"I'm nowhere near the first team yet.

"I do think he is a good player but I don't really try and follow anyone."

He did, however, hope to watch Rio at close hand at the weekend but says:

"I wanted to go to that game but I can't because the dates overlap."

Glen was involved in a final game in Dallas - a friendly which the Hammers won 6-0 against the Florida soccer academy. Everyone bar Kes Metitri got a run out as the side used a system of rolling subs.

Eastwood [3], Allen [2] and Riddle notched for the youngsters.

* Terrell Forbes and Amos Foyewa are interesting QPR and Southend respectively, and were due for reserve team run outs with them on wednesday.

** Quotes you may have read from Christian Dailly and Shaka Hislop in newspapers are, in fact, recycled from last week.