Glenn: J Not Ready - Yet

Glenn Roeder says that talk of Jermain Defoe getting into the full England squad is, at this stage of the season, premature.

He fervently hopes, and indeed expects, that his elevation to international status will happen, but is keen to play down such talk after it was mooted before this season even began.

He explains: "Jermain Defoe has got some terrific strikers ahead of him in Michael Owen and Heskey just to name two, and there is Robbie Fowler as well.

"So for him to be considered for the seniors he has to really nail down a place in our team on a regular basis.

"If he does that - or when he does that - I have got to trust Sven-Goran Eriksson's experience and judgment that he brings him in at the right time.

"I have got a lot of faith in the England manager. His track record, wherever he has been, is excellent, and he is highly respected in the game.

"If he is to be called up in the seniors I have to believe that he is ready for that, and I must leave that to him.

"But from my point of view Jermain needs to be playing in the West Ham first team - and scoring goals."

Despite the poor start to the season, Glenn feels that the young players that are so crucial to the club's development are ready to move on a stage and are happy with the way things are going in general.

"I'd like to think so," he says, "because they are certainly highly motivated young players and they all have good attitudes.

"They know how big the prizes are in football and are extremely young to have already played, as in the case of Joe and Michael, so many games at Premiership level.

"Jermain would expect, and I would expect him to, to make many more starts for us. If he does that, hopefully he can improve on the 14 goals he got last year.

"Those young boys have got everything to look forward to and gain this year."

Meanwhile, Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the latest high profile name in the game to predict a good season for the Hammers, citing the idea that every season throws up a 'surprise' team, such as Newcastle were in the last campaign.