ALAN Pardew is looking forward to locking horns with another young,
up and coming English manager this Sunday when he takes his Hammers
side to Manchester City.
And the Hammers boss explains that he has always had great admiration for former Upton Park star Stuart Pearce and the job he is doing at the City of Manchester Stadium.
Pards said: "I admire Stuart greatly, he has always been a real hero of mine throughout my career. I not only think very highly of him as a player and manager but as a person as well."
He revealed while the two will be up against each other during the match at the City of Manchester Stadium this weekend, off the pitch afterwards they remain close friends.
Pards said: "I've got to know Stuart, we've been on a good few coaching courses together and we've always got on really well. What you see is what you get with Stuart and while we will both be trying to win the game. I'm sure we'll have a little chat after the game though."
Pearce, the former England full-back, was a popular character at the club, where he spent two years from 1999 to 2001.
And when West Ham gained promotion in May, Pearce spoke of his delight at seeing the Club back in the Premiership and had words of praise for the Hammers boss.
Pards said: "It was very nice for him to say the things he did when we got promoted, because he didn't have to do that. But that's him. That's part of the person he is. I wanted to sign him when I was Reading, but never got the chance in the end."
Pards added: "Stuart manages his team in a similar style to how he played, expecting his players to give everything they've got and that's how it should be."
"It's going to be a tough game because Manchester City have been an established Premiership side for a while now and we know we've got to be at our best.
"But we're confident away from home after our recent performances and want to keep this momentum going by getting a good result there."