Dazzling Vaz still believes in Hammers
PEN STOKED FOR A DEAL
JERMAINE PENNANT has insisted he won’t be booted out of the Potteries this summer.
The Stoke winger is convinced boss Tony Pulis will keep the faith and not show him the Britannia Stadium exit door.
Pulis is keen to bring in more wide men for next season, with Wolves’ Matt Jarvis and Blackpool’s Matt Phillips both transfer targets.
But Pennant is refusing to accept he will be looking for another club as he bids to stay at Stoke.
He said: “I would love to get a regular place. I’m here, no-one’s said anything about leaving.
“I’m going to return in July for pre-season, which I’m not looking forward to!
“I could have two years left. Hopefully next season I will get that No.7 shirt.” RICARDO VAZ TE insists that West Ham’s promotion dream is still alive.
The striker (above) took his tally to seven goals in 12 games since joining the Hammers from Barnsley when he struck twice against Birmingham on Monday.
That was enough to salvage a 3-3 draw for Sam Allardyce’s side – but left them adrift of the top two.
Vaz Te said: “There is no doubt in anybody’s mind – the players or the staff – that we are going up.
“That’s the aim and nobody is running from the responsibility.
“Some people might have a doubt, but we dominated the game and should have won. We just have to keep improving and keep focusing on getting better.”
Brighton visit Upton Park on Saturday and Vaz Te is convinced the Hammers will claim three more points so long as they cut out the defensive slips.
He said: “There is no doubt that is what we have to do.
“We just need to focus to not leave ourselves too open on the counter where we’ve been vulnerable.
“With the rest of the game, we just keep on going, keep the positives and improve the negatives. That’s what we have to work on.”