Sam Allardyce set to unleash England youngster

Hall will be on the bench against Bristol City, having scored six goals in 10 matches for the League Two club. The 18-year-old joined Oxford on loan for a month on September 12 and then extended his deal by a further month.

Oxford wanted to keep Hall for even longer but West Ham manager Sam Allardyce decided to recall him yesterday because of injury problems among the Hammers squad.

Allardyce acted after receiving a glowing report on the player from Jim Smith, Oxford United's most successful manager, who still regularly attends their games.

"I've talked to Jim and he has told me how well Robert has done," said Allardyce, who could also have Carlton Cole back on the bench after nearly a month out with a knee injury.

Allardyce has also been boosted by the news that Julien Faubert, one of the survivors from West Ham's relegation season, has said he no longer wants to leave the club after winning back a regular place this season.

The versatile defender said: "I'm happy again because I give my best for this team and the manager has given me confidence. Now I must pay him back.

"Last season was the worst of my life, even for my family because my son was asking, 'Why are you not playing?'

"Things are different now. I just want to stay and be focused on helping West Ham back into the Premier League.

"The manager is really clear about what he wants. We work a lot with videos he is clear also with his tactics."

Striker Sam Baldock, who has scored four goals in his last four games, will again start against the Championship's bottom club tonight and Allardyce said: "I went to watch him after a phonecall from the MK Dons manager, Karl Robinson. He told me he had a good striker at the club but that they needed to sell him to get some money in.

"I said I would go and have a look because we were looking for that type of front man, a quick player who wants to get between and behind the full-back and the central defender.

"He scored three that day and I came back pretty excited. The price then started to go up and I went to Norwich to see him again.

"This time he scored a great goal from outside the box and I said to the chairman that we really needed to get him.

"He was unproven and he was stepping up a division but for me, a goal-scorer is a goalscorer and I felt he had the right qualities to succeed."