Glenn: No Paolo Presumptions

Glenn Roeder has welcomed Paolo Di Canio back from injury with the message: This does not have to be your last season at the club.

Glenn is only too aware that people assume it will be as he hasn't been offered a new deal yet, but, setting the record straight, he insists:

"I think people are presuming all the negative things, because at the moment we are just saying the timing, for where we are at the moment, is just not right.

"That doesn't mean we won't get down to serious conversations at the right time - we want to be in a position by Christmas to be able to do that.

"If we can push on and get a few victories to move us up the league I am sure we can all sit down around the table and discuss thing privately - and that is important."

Glenn is understandably exasperated by constant questioning about the situation, and he stresses:

"We can't be discussing any player's contract situation publicly until we have really sat down and seriously thrashed it out with the player concerned; it would be very wrong to do that.

"When there is something major to be said we will say it, and I am sure Paolo will as well, but people must not presume, just because we don't feel it is the right time, that Paolo is not going to be offered a new contract.

"Just because we don't feel in a position to sit down at the moment doesn't mean it is coming to an end at the end of this season.

"There is a lot of water to go under the bridge yet and it is wrong to presume negatively."

Glenn says a solution will be looked at and adds:

"We must just be a little bit more patient, and it is a quality that too many people don't have."

Paolo returns from a groin injury which ruled him out of the games with Liverpool and Oldham, and Glenn is delighted at having his captain back.

"It is excellent to have Paolo back and no one can deny the influence he has had on our three wins this season; at Chelsea he was great, he put the pass in for Sinclair to score at Sunderland, and of course the ice cool penalty at Fulham," he says.

"In those games his general play and influence was very good, and our players have always recognised the talent that he is.

"His physical fitness is very good and he certainly hasn't lost any from last year - he keeps himself in great shape.

"Like he says himself, he loves being here and Paolo would not have stayed at West Ham this length of time if he didn't like it.

"You only have to look back at how long he has stayed at other clubs - he has left a few pretty quickly and this is his longest stay."

Glenn says it is not just on the pitch that he shines, but off it as well, and adds:

"I have never had a problem with Paolo - he manages himself.

"He puts so much into his training I don't think I have ever had to say to him 'come on Paolo, you are not training well, put some effort in.'

"You don't have to do that with him, though there are some players you are doing it every day to."

Glenn has no problems if Paolo reminds others of their responsibilities and he adds:

"He puts his stint in, he loves his football, he loves his training, and he gets frustrated with other people when he doesn't see them training the same way.

"But it's not wrong that one professional wants another professional to put more into his training."

Glenn appreciates the time he takes to talk to the younger players at the club as well, and he says:

"He is always prepared to offer advice to his young players and that is not a bad thing; it is very positive because he is so experienced and has played at the highest level.

"He is very football intelligent; I talk to Paolo about football and what he says makes sense.

"You may have different opinions about certain things but whatever he says about football you can make a case for it making sense."

Glenn is hoping Paolo's return will provide the right pick-me-up for the club as they chase that elusive first home win of the campaign.

"There are quite a few disappointments so far this season, I'm unhappy to say," admits Glenn.

"One of the biggest is that I felt we were slightly stronger in terms of strength in depth this time.

"But I always knew that we were one or two short in the front part of the team because we just couldn't manage to get that extra striker in, and we were virtually gambling on Fredi, Paolo, and Jermain staying fit all of the time.

"Of course the gamble with Fredi hasn't paid off because he has missed so many games - and he is not going to be fit for another two or three weeks.

"But we must also remember the three victories we have had have been achieved with Paolo and Jermain in the team as the strikers.

"We must be positive about that and we must support Jermain as much as we can.

"He gets all the support I feel he needs from me and the players must try and help the young lad through a tough time as well.

"He'll be the first to admit it is a difficult time for him - as it is for all of us.

"But when you are 19 years old it is that bit more tough because you haven't got that experience behind you to fall back on.

"But he is a strong character and he is desperate to stay in the team; although it is not happening for him at the moment all the time he is learning from this experience and I am sure he will come through it with flying colours.