Danny a Euro fancy
Noble rubbishes rift talk and leads fight to save Pellegrini
RALPH HASENHUTTL believes Danny Ings can be England’s Euro 2020 wild card.
The in-form striker aims to become the first Southampton player since James Beattie in 2002 to score in six successive top-flight games when West Ham travel to St Mary’s today.
Boss Hasenhuttl said: “He’s having a fantastic run and we have fantastic strikers in England – Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane have fantastic quality.
“But I’m very happy he shows up like this. He’s a very important player for our team and I hope his run continues as long as possible.
“If he scores one more, he gets the record and he deserves this because he worked really hard in the summer, so it’s no surprise he’s now playing well.
“I don’t think I have to tell (England boss) Gareth (Southgate) what to do. He has a very good view of all his players I think.
“Ingsy is a fantastic character and has a winning mentality. It’s good to maybe have him as an alternative.” (above right) Pellegrini
MARK NOBLE insists the West Ham dressing room is united ahead of the biggest game of the club’s chaotic season.
The Hammers must win at Southampton today for manager Manuel Pellegrini to keep his job.
But the Chilean’s cause has been hit by talk of a dressing room rift – in particular claims that some players are unhappy at the contributions of individuals like Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko.
Anderson was poor against Arsenal as West Ham surrendered a 1-0 lead and collapsed in the final half hour to lose 3-1.
And Yarmolenko was left out of the squad for that game after performing poorly against Wolves.
But skipper Noble said: “I fully understand there have been suggestions that our dressing room is divided.
“I’d like to put that one to bed right now. There is no rift in our dressing room.
“Of course a few wins would help the mood but the reality is that our dressing room morale is still really good. In fact, if we’d lost a few games and everyone was still buzzing, I’d be more worried. There are a lot of games to go and a lot of points still to play for.
“Don’t tell me that players couldn’t care less when they’re team is going through a bad run, as we are at the moment. It kills me because I desperately want this club to do well.”
West Ham have won just one of their last 10 Premier League games and sit just one point off the bottom three.
Southampton have six points from their games.
Defeat would leave the Hammers in the bottom three if other results go against them. It would also force the board to take the action they fear they will need to in order to preserve the club’s Premier League status.
David Moyes, Chris Hughton and Eddie Howe are among the front runners for the job, although Harry Redknapp has emerged as a possible caretaker should the club want to go for another option in the summer. collected last three