GLENN Roeder looks likely to throw youngster Glen Johnson in on Sunday and there is every chance that the eighteen year old will be a cornerstone of the fight for survival in the right hand side full back slot.

Johnson, a product of the Hammers Academy, was called back from Millwall, where he had been on loan, a couple of weeks ago and had his debut last week at Charlton. He also went on in the 80th minute at Manchester United in the FA Cup last Sunday.

Johnson said of his experiences so far: "I would prefer to come on with better score lines than those two, but that's life. With a bit of luck I might get into the starting line up soon and then we can go from there."

Coming into the team in a situation such as the Hammers are in would be daunting for any player, let alone such a young one, but Johnson remains level headed: "Every match from now on is a very highly pressurised game, but I feel I can cope with it. I would prefer to have no pressure, but you just have to deal with it.

"I still reckon we can stay up. We have to start turning things around now though, but I still think we can."

January 30, 2003 10:30