Recurring injury pulls Upson down

The Hammers were ready to splash out to take the 27-year-old from Birmingham as he was supposed to be the defensive rock on which manager Alan Curbishley's survival plan was based.

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He pulled a calf muscle 30 minutes into his debut at Aston Villa in February and pulled it again 11 minutes into his return against Spurs at the beginning of March.

Upson was close to making a comeback against Middlesbrough last week but has suffered another recurrence in training, ruling him out of tomorrow's game at Arsenal.

Curbishley said: "He has to make sure he has got it right. If he came back and broke down again it would look terrible and the season would be over for him.

"We're just taking a bit more time on it. He'll be fit when he's fit. It's frustrating for everybody, most of all him."

Tomorrow's game at the Emirates Stadium is followed by a critical clash at relegation rivals Sheffield United next Saturday and a home game against Chelsea the following Wednesday.

Curbishley will not give up on Upson's season but if the next few results go against them, the centre half's return could be academic. Two more of Curbishley's January signings — Calum Davenport and Nigel Quashie — are not fit to face Arsenal, but successive wins over Blackburn and Middlesbrough have given the visitors hope of taking something from a difficult match.

The Hammers beat Arsenal 1-0 in November, a last-ditch winner by Marlon Harewood sparking an ugly touchline spat between managers Alan Pardew and Arsene Wenger, and they were also the final team to win at Highbury, last February.

"Why can't we go and get a result at Arsenal?" asked Curbishley.

"Arsenal are a very good side but this is another opportunity for us to try and win. That's what we're going there to do. We've got seven games left and we've got to win the majority of them."

Teddy Sheringham pricked the positive mood at Upton Park, however, by expressing dismay at being overlooked by Curbishley since he asked for a move in January when Charlton were interested.

The veteran striker has made just one appearance in 2007, finding himself behind Carlos Tevez, Bobby Zamora, Marlon Harewood, Kepa Blanco and Carlton Cole in the pecking order.

Sheringham, 41, said: "There was a bit of interest for me in January and, as I was sixth-choice striker, I said I would like to leave. Alan Curbishley said I was not going to go to any of our rivals and the rivals were the ones who wanted me.

"He did not like that idea and I have not played since, so I am not best pleased."

Curbishley insisted Sheringham was still involved, saying: "Teddy trains fully with us even if he's not been involved on a Saturday but there are lots of players in his position. It's a team selection thing, simple as that. He's never been frozen out."