Trio ready for action

James Tomkins, Freddie Sears and Junior Stanislas were all part of a winning England Under-20 team on Tuesday night, but their focus has very much switched back to domestic issues and the visit of Sunderland to the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.

Tomkins has started the last five games for West Ham United but Gianfranco Zola has an embarrassment of riches in central defence as Matthew Upson and James Collins are back in contention after returning from injury. The 20-year-old Tomkins, who has been an integral part of a Hammers' defence that has conceded just once in the last four games, is hoping the side can continue their push for a European place with a win.

"We need to get as many points now as possible now coming into the end of the season," Tomkins said. "Our target now is to get that seventh spot and Saturday is a massive game and we can get a victory,"

Stanislas made his debut from the bench in West Ham's last home game against West Bromwich Albion and, after scoring a hat-trick in a recent friendly against Chelsea, is hoping for another taste of the unique Boleyn Ground atmosphere against Ricky Sbragia's side. 

He said: "I'll probably be on the bench but any minutes I get will be good for me so hopefully I'll get on and all goes well"

Freddie Sears also started that game and with Carlton Cole ruled out for an estimated six weeks, the door for Sears remains very much open.

"It's a massive game as we need three points because we're looking for the seventh place so we'll go out there and we'll try to beat them."