West Ham boss Alan
Curbishley insists that he has no problem with Teddy Sheringham on
a personal level as he bids to retain the club's Premiership
status.
Since Curbishley succeeded Alan Pardew at Upton Park, veteran
striker Sheringham has been reduced to the periphery of first team
football in the East London.
Having decided that he could perhaps play on for another season,
the classy former England international is desperate for playing
time, but thus far has seen his pleas fall on Curbishley's deaf
ear.
Talk has been that the pair do not enjoy the type of relationship
Sheringham shared with his former taskmaster Pardew but Curbishley,
who has recalled the player to his squad for this weekend's game
with Middlesbrough, insists there is no agenda behind the
40-year-old's absence.
"If I think Teddy should be playing, hell be playing," Curbishley
told a website. "There is no agenda.
"Id like to think Im intelligent enough and not naive, in picking
the team I feel will get a result.
"Im not strong enough in the position I am, in the bottom three,
to start leaving people out (for personal reasons).
"Ive said it to Teddy since Ive been at the club that hes
trained really well. Especially stuff where you think perhaps
hell struggle with that but he hasnt and hes desperate to
play.
"I understand his frustration but I dont know how much he featured
before I came to the club, he obviously figured in some very
important games and scored some crucial goals."