Alan Curbishley is ready for stage two of his "massive week" for West Ham United after coming through part one with flying colours.
"It is a one-off," said Curbishley, before Everton's visit in the Carling Cup quarter-finals. "A big game for everybody and we will see if we can come out of it the right side after Wednesday night. I think we have demonstrated this year that we have attacked the Carling Cup
"A Premiership side is going to win the League Cup and why not us? I have attacked it as much as I could with the teams I have put out and hopefully we can carry on." The manager added that Everton had set an example for West Ham United to follow in recent years, with good league positions and European football becoming the norm at Goodison Park.
A trophy would certainly see the club make a giant leap towards emulating such achievements but it will not be easy. "All the ties are going to be difficult. Cup runs keep everything bubbling along and certainly here at West Ham they enjoy a cup run. I am sure Everton will have something to say about that and it is going to be an interesting night."
Team selection will be equally interesting with Matthew Etherington, who came off in the 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers for match-winner Dean Ashton, and James Collins both troubled by groin problems but in contention. Freddie Ljungberg, deliberately rested at the weekend because Nolberto Solano is cup-tied, is in line to play, while Mark Noble and Lee Bowyer may come into the midfield thinking as well.
There is also a choice to be made in goal between Robert Green and Richard Wright, with the latter playing all three previous matches in the competition. Two who definitely will not figure are Bobby Zamora (knee) and Craig Bellamy (stomach) but there is particularly good news on the former while it is very much a 'wait and see' situation for the latter.
Curbishley said: "Bobby Zamora is running at the moment. We have got to get him through that before we can introduce him back." On Craig Bellamy, a decision will be made soon about whether he requires further surgery.
The return of Ashton and the tremendous form of Carlton Cole and Luis Boa Morte has meant forward areas have not been a problem, with Henri Camara, also cup-tied for Everton, another option. On Ashton, Curbishley felt his return had been handled well. "We have done it right, introduced him slowly again and, hopefully when he gets in there and gets a full game, that's the start and he can stay there."
There was also upbeat news on France winger Julien Faubert. "It is great to see him out there running," said the manager. "Hopefully if he continues the way he has done in the last week he will be a couple of weeks away from joining in with us which is a big boost." There have been plenty of such positives at the club lately and success on Wednesday would only add to the feelgood factor.
With the same opposition arriving on Saturday for a league fixture, Curbishley said he was simply targeting two victories when asked to name which was the most important to the club. "I would like to win both games," he claimed, before adding "ask the fans - I am sure they would give you a view on it."
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