Pards Hoping Bobby Can Dazzle

ALAN Pardew faces one of football's nicer selection dilemmas on Saturday, whether to play in form front-man Bobby Zamora at his old club Brighton.

Bobby scored the 78th minute winner at Stoke that has kept Hammers Play-off hopes on track, and has impressed in recent games coming off the subs bench and injecting a sparkle to the West Ham attack.

"Bobby's really starting to find some form at the moment," insisted Pards. "He's putting pressure on the front two, which is what we want because he's a very good player and deserves to be pushing for a first-team place.

"Marlon and Teddy have been playing really well recently, but to have Bobby coming off the bench and making an impact is terrific for the Club.

"It gives me one of the better selection problems, but Bobby has done well recently and he's desperate to be involved on Saturday.

"It'll be a day of mixed emotions for Bob. He's very close to the people at Brighton and he'll be really keen for them to stay up.

"But he'll be hoping to beat them on Saturday and doing his best for West Ham, whatever role he plays."

Pards was delighted to see the Hammers fans showing their appreciation for the former Seagulls and Spurs striker at Stoke, admitting that the 24-year-old's form is based on confidence.

"I've been really determined to get Bobby playing at the level we know he can," said Pards. "I've spoken to the other managers he's worked with and they all tell me that he's a confidence player.

"He's a huge fan of this Club and he needs the backing of the crowd. To hear them all chanting his name after the Stoke game will have done Bobby's confidence the world of good.

"He works fantastically hard at his game, is brilliant in training and everyone at the Club wants him to do well."

Bobby arrived at West Ham in January 2004 as part of the deal that saw Jermain Defoe move to Spurs. Pards has admitted that following in the footsteps of Jermain hasn't been easy for the former Hammers youth player, but insists he has never lost faith in the player.

"It was tough for Bobby coming in after Jermain left," he confessed. "But he was desperate to come to the Club and is determined to do well.

"There was a time earlier this season when he might have left. We sat down and spoke and Bobby was keen to get first-team football. We had a couple of firm bids for Bobby, but he wanted to stay and make it work for at Upton Park.

"We've never lost faith in him. It hasn't really worked out for Bobby as he might have wanted, but that's not to say it won't.

"He's a terrific lad and everyone is hoping he can make a success of it here. Bobby would like nothing more than to do well at West Ham United.