It’s all rosy for Wigan's Kirkland on the cabbage pitch

Now the 26-year-old keeper is determined to convince Capello to install him as England's No 1 ahead of David James and Scott Carson. Providing, of course, he can stay fit.

Kirkland's career has been dogged by injuries, limiting the former Liverpool and Coventry man to 45 minutes of senior international action against Greece in August 2006 in Steve McClaren's first game. Back in favour at the start of the Capello era he does not intend to drift out of the picture again.

"I haven't spoken to anyone from England for quite a while. To be honest, I sort of forgot about it. I've had a few injuries and then I've not been in squads but it's all changed now."

While striker Emile Heskey was once again forced to pull out of an England squad, this time with a sciatic nerve problem, Kirkland faced a far greater test from a cabbage patch of a pitch at the JJB Stadium than anything West Ham could throw at him.

Every back pass, every bobble posed the threat of an embarrassing blunder for him and opposite number Robert Green, who will count himself unfortunate not to be in Capello's squad.

Just what will become of the surface when the Warriors, Wigan's rugby league side, play their first home game of the season in less than a fortnight is a frightening prospect. Everyone had their own word for the pitch called it 'horrible', Alan Curbishley 'embarrassing'.

But match-winner Kevin Kilbane admitted it could be of assistance in the battle against relegation after scoring the only goal to help his side out of the bottom three.

"West Ham tried to get the ball down and play in the first half," he said. "But you have to take a touch and watch the ball right on to your foot. We have to try and use it to our advantage. Teams aren't going to enjoy coming here to play on that and hopefully we can put a few results together."

Wigan found a way round the problem on the stroke of half-time by keeping the ball in the air. Ryan Taylor floated in a free kick and Kilbane sent a looping header over the stranded Green for his first goal of the season — albeit by mistake.

"No, it wasn't a training ground routine and I didn't mean to score," he admitted. "I tried to put it back across just to see who was coming in on it."

Antonio Valencia went closest to beating Green again with a 25-yard rocket that hit both posts and rebounded to safety. The Ecuador winger also sent Marcus Bent clean through towards the end and the substitute should have beaten Green rather than blazing over.

West Ham's best chance fell to Craig Bellamy, who came off the bench for his first appearance following a three-month injury lay-off.

Typically, the volatile Welshman was berating Freddie Ljungberg within seconds of his arrival but almost had his team-mate to thank for a goal when the Swede chested the ball perfectly into his path after 76 minutes only for Bellamy to fire off target.

"Perhaps he would have taken that chance if he was 100 per cent right but there's no way out of it at the moment," said Curbishley as he lamented the injuries blightingWest Ham's season.

He hopes Bellamy, Bobby Zamora and Julien Faubert will play in a friendly against QPR today and be available to boost West Ham's bid for a top-six finish.

"I'm hoping fresh legs and fresh minds will come back into the squad for the long run-in because some of the players have been playing week in, week out without a break," said Curbishley.