DUO RETURN FOR ROVERS

Morten Gamst Pedersen and El-Hadji Diouf look set to return for Rover's after both missing the last weekends game against Liverpool.

Pedersen has been recovering from a calf strain and Diouf as been laid low with a throat infection, both of them have been training all week and are included in the squad for the trip to the Britainia stadium to face Stoke on Saturday.

But two players who won't make the trip will be Jason Roberts and Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts is suffering with a fractured metatarsal and Cruz is recovering from a minor knee operation.

"We are looking forward to the game", said Allardyce at the Friday morning press call.

"And we are obviously pleased to have Morten and El-Hadji Diouf back, but we are still a way off Roque and Jason Roberts particularly to add to the squad.

"We may not have won the game but with them certainly we wouldn't have lost the game 4-0.

"I think we would have put a in more encouraging performance against a very good Liverpool side and I think that we'd have got closer to the sort of performance we gave against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

"But that wasn't to be because of those injuries, but hopefully we'll get back to how we know we can play on Saturday against Stoke."

ZOLA'S QUEST FOR EUROPE

Gianfranco Zola is looking for the Hammers to pull together and make that final push towards Europe.

The Italian is not only working hard behind the scenes with his team on the training field but is also working hard with CEO Scott Duxbury and technical director Gianluca Nani, with all hands to the pump, they have got to make sure everyone is prepared to the max to secure that place in Europe.

West Ham's next tie is the tricky trip to fifth placed Aston Villa who are also chasing a place in Europe and things must be right for Gianfranco, and as he tells the clubs official website its all about being prepared for that all important final push for Europe.

"This is a very ambitious club and I believe that me, along with Gianluca Nani and Scott Duxbury, are working well as a team. The relationship between us has been strong all the time and I believe we have good ideas and we're not scared to apply them. With these conditions I believe the club is strong and can go forward." said Zola

"That's what we're looking for. I believe we are building up a good reputation among the players because we play good football and there is a good atmosphere. It could be an attractive thing for good players to come. I wouldn't be surprised to see a good player come and play for West Ham in the summer. We will see.

"I believe that we have here a good platform. West Ham has got a good platform to build something good for the future. We want to build it slowly with attention. We are not big spenders but we spend the money wisely and work hard to make it happen. That's what we are doing and why we have a good relationship with Gianluca, Scott and the whole staff with regards to this project."

And with Europe hopefully looming for the Hammer's next season, its strengthening the squad that Zola is looking at doing.

"I'm not going to have more than 20 or a maximum of 22 players. I know I am risking a little bit when I go for a short number like that but I believe I gain something else. I'm not going to have a squad bigger than 20. Maybe I will have three, four or five very good young players in the reserves and ready to come in when they're needed."

"Maybe if I had had more players I could have done better but I don't like [to make excuses]. I like to think about what I've got and not to think too much about what I haven't got. I think it's been a good test for me because I've been forced many times to make something out of the situation and it's been very good for my improvement."

Brown ready for Sunderland test

Phil Brown is hoping to turn things round and make the Tigers get it right against Sunderland this weekend.

Hull suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough last time out and will be looking to claim all the spoils in this six pointer at the Stadium of Light.

If they don't raise their game they could find their own fans turning against them after an impressive start to the season and after disappointment so far this year Phil Brown is hoping he can give the travelling fans something to cheer about.

"We know how to perform at this level and we need to bring that to the table on Saturday," said Brown.

"Spirits have been dampened a little because of the way we played last weekend. We let ourselves down, we let the Club down and we let our supporters down. That has only happened on a couple of occasions this season.

"We have to get back to what we are good at and that is working hard, having pride in the shirt, being committed to the cause and getting into the faces of the opposition.

"Saturday is a game that we are certainly capable of getting something from. A top performance is required. We need a performance to put Middlesbrough on the way behind.

"As a squad, I know we want to go out there against Sunderland and show that Saturday was a one off."

Shearer to play the Oba

Newcastle chief Alan Shearer will ask Obafemi Martins to play through the pain barrier and to prove his commitment to the club.

Martins pulled out of last weekend's trip to Stoke at the last minute and it gave Shearer the totally wrong message as he looks for something from his players as he trys to save them from the drop.

Shearer and Martins met to have clear the air talks and he now accepts that the Nigerian is struggling with a hernia problem and with a trip to White Hart Lane on Sunday, he knows Martins is a long shot.

Shearer said: “We know what we want him to do, it’s just a case of how much pain that’ll cause him.

“An op would rule him out for the season. With rest we’d lose him for two or three weeks, the same for an injection.”

Benitez: Xavi for keeps

Rafa Benitez has issued a stark warning to anyone thinking of tempting Xavi Alonso away from Anfield.

The Liverpool chief is well aware that Real and Barcelona have been showing an interest in the Spanish international and has no intention of letting him go especially after an impressive season.

Xavi nearly left Liverpool last summer to join Juventus and as Rafa reveals, Alonso isn't going anywhere.

“We had an offer from Juventus and asked a big price as he is a big player. They couldn’t meet it.

“Xabi is having a good season and is a key player. He’s a player we want to keep.”

If Liverpool want to build on this season's title momentum then they have to keep big players and with a statement like this, it looks like Benitez as every intention of being a big player again next season.