Alan Curbishley has spoken about Anton Ferdinand's desire to get fit and earn a return to the West Ham United starting lineup.
The manager revealed the talented 22-year-old had made a real effort over the summer and in the early part of the season. He had arrived back at the club on a high after impressing for England in their run to the European Under-21 Championship semi-finals - and carried on in similar fashion at Chadwell Heath. "He came in a lot stronger, a lot fitter and, with the competition here at centre-back, he started the season," the manager said.
Although initially picked ahead of Danny Gabbidon and James Collins, Ferdinand was then frustrated by a hamstring setback at the end of October that allowed the ever-reliable Gabbidon to come in and forge a formidable partnership with Matthew Upson. Despite that disappointment, Curbishley explained the homegrown talent was "now just concentrating on getting fit", adding: "I think he is hoping to have a clean slate and a clear run at it now."
The club is renowned for producing talented youngsters through the Academy and Curbishley believed there was no bar to what his young No5 could go on to achieve with West Ham United. "He has got so much ability that it could take him wherever he wants to go," he said. "But it is all right talking about it, you have got to go and do it." With Ferdinand due back in training in the next week and with the games coming thick and fast, it is likely he will get a chance to shine again sooner rather than later.