Glenn: Dj Will Come Through

Glenn Roeder is backing David James to come through a tough spell as Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for the match with Australia at Upton Park on Wednesday, named at the weekend, is eagerly awaited.

With David Seaman not being included in friendly squads nowadays, the fight is on for the number one spot in his absence by way of a clue as to who will be Seaman's eventually successor.

David himself is understandably reluctant to shout his claims from the rooftops, concentrating as he is on West Ham's fight to get out of the bottom three.

Glenn, too, is more concerned right now about domestic issues and insists blame for the goals against column must not be laid at his - or any individual's - door.

"David is very much part of the team, particularly the defensive unit, and I don't like to isolate goalkeepers," he explains.

"The defence has come in for a fair bit of criticism this season but the defenders have shown me they want to work hard on the training ground to improve our defensive situation.

"Again, that is where the improvement will start to happen, on the training ground, by the work we are doing defensively.

"Then we will expect to see an improvement in the match situation."

With 12 games out of 38 remaining, Glenn adds: "There is a third of the season left as there is for the other teams down there, and they will have the same thoughts as us.

"We must make sure we don't waste this third but have a productive one in the manner of last year when the last third was very good.

"We need the same type of results in these last 12 games."

Glenn insists that there is a real determination to pull clear, and he explains:

"There is no one at this football club packing in, no one here will lay down their arms and as far as I'm concerned there is no question of ever, ever, giving in - it is no surrender.

"It is all true stuff but what you have to do is turn the words into the actions.

"We are looking for strong people with good attitudes - people that believe in themselves, believe in the team, and believe in our fight for survival.

"We feel that we will start going in the right direction very soon."