Jobi's Chuffed

Jobi McAnuff is delighted to have got his debut under his belt - and pleased that Bobby Zamora is off the mark with a goal in his first game.

"It can only be upwards from here and I am looking forward to the next few games," says Jobi, who played in the first half at Bradford City.

Jobi played in a less familiar left-sided role as a late replacement for Matt Etherington and Alan Pardew acknowledges it couldn't have been easy given so little time to mentally prepare to start the match.

Jobi, though, is pleased that West Ham got the win and is putting that above personal considerations.

"It was a bit of a late shout and I was pleased to get the nod and be told I was starting.

"I was a bit disappointed coming off at half time and I didn't get involved as much as I think I should have," he admits.

"Obviously the gaffer has made decisions at half time and they have worked so you can't argue with that.

"It is a shame I didn't have more of an influence on the game and I would have liked longer, but that's how it goes sometimes.

"I am normally a right sided midfielder; I do feel I can do a job there on the left, but it just didn't happen on the day."

As for fellow debutant Bobby, who came on at half time, Jobi says:

"Bobby came on and got the goal and Marlon is always a threat so it a was very good win.

"Bobby is a very good finisher and he has a lot of attributes to his game so it was only a matter of time before he started scoring.

"It was a bonus for him that he did it on his debut."

Jobi, like Nigel Reo-Coker a Liverpool fan as a boy, feels he is integrating well and adds:

"I am settling in okay into what is mainly a young squad so that helps.

"But the other lads have been good as well and helped me.

"There have been no problems and I am just looking forward to some more training and working my way into the team.

"When people arrive your age it is easy to get on with them and bed in - and I have played against most of the players as well.

"So they are not complete strangers and it has been good so far."

And the dressing room music which on Saturday included the Jackson Five - a group whose heyday was before he and some of his colleagues were born?

"It is not too bad, and I don't mind it!"