In the absence of Fredi Kanoute and Paolo Di Canio he is almost certain to be on the bench against Sunderland, and Paul says: "He has had a little bit of a barren spell and it is no secret that myself and Glenn were a little disappointed in a few of his displays early on in the season.
"He has been out in the wilderness a little bit but this has given him an opportunity, he might get a chance, and he has got to try and take it with both hands."
Paul says he is not aware of reported interest in him from Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth, adding: "I don't know anything about that."
He goes on: "He is a very talented player who does very individual things with the ball at times; he is instinctive and he is working hard on his strength.
"But it is a little bit more of a mental thing with him - being totally focused on the game all the time and giving everything his full concentration so that he can work hard at the right time.
"He has worked very hard in training this week and I am sure he was pleased to be back in the squad last weekend; he must understand there could be an opportunity for him."
And, talking of Jermain Defoe, who made his first Premiership start last weekend against Spurs, he says: "Jermain was a little disappointed last weekend with the way things went, though the service to the front two wasn't the best and that must improve.
"There was no shortage of effort but a shortage of quality at times and a little lack of knowledge as well.
"But Jermain is very young; to be 19 and a first choice striker in the Premiership is very early, and he still has a lot to learn, but we have all got a lot of faith in him.
"Numbers have been a little bit short with injuries; we looked at it closely and it is just one of those things that have happened.
"Steve Lomas would have been a massive influence to have around but we need to get on with it."
As for the Sunderland match, he adds: "No game against a Peter Reid side is easy; we will do very well to come away with a result.
"Kevin Phillips is one of the best strikers in the Premiership and his presence is something we have been working on.
"I have done a bit myself and got my boots on because things are starting to look a little bit that way!"