Ludo: Vladimir Will Come Good

Ludek Miklosko says that Vladimir Labant has been unlucky with injuries since joining the Hammers - and that he will continue to fight for a place at Upton Park.

Vlado was a notable absentee from the Slovakia squad that faced England at the weekend, having been omitted on account of his not playing regularly for West Ham since his transfer from Sparta Prague in January.

Says Ludo: "Vlado has been ill with flu and stomach problems but played the full game on Tuesday against Tottenham reserves.

"I think the first thing for him is to get into the first team; he is trying and working hard and he has been a little bit unlucky with injuries.

"He gets something for one week, comes back to train, then picks something else up - but he is determined to get in the side."

Ludo, who helped sell the club to Vlado and Tomas Repka on account of a shared language, admits that he didn't know the contents of Tomas' recent verbal joust with Paolo Di Canio at Chesterfield - as they were speaking Italian.

"I don't know what it was about; the newspapers have to write about something, but the pair are friends."

He admits that Tomas was not pleased with his performance at home to Birmingham City recently, and says: "Of course he was more disappointed than anyone. Sometimes you are up, sometimes you are down - and only hard work can sort it out on the pitch.

"Definitely it was a bad game for us, and after the Chelsea game everyone expected to win; it was a big disappointment but that is life.

"I think everyone wants to do their best but sometimes it is difficult, especially when you are in our situation. You need a little bit of luck at times like this.

"Now we now have two difficult away games, but sometimes it is better to play away, especially after these recent performances."

As for the goalkeeping side of things, he adds: "They are doing very well and improving. Glen Jackson is in good form for the under-19s, Steve Bywater is still recovering from a wrist injury, and David Forde is coming back from injury, working hard, and doing quite well."