West Ham midfielder Carl Fletcher is calling on his team-mates to take responsibility for easing the pressure on manager Alan Pardew.

The Welsh international was signed by Pardew from Bournemouth earlier this season and is keen to repay the faith shown in him by the boss.

But he insists nobody is getting too carried away with the speculation concerning the manager's future as Hammers prepare for Saturday's FA Cup fourth round tie at home to Sheffield United.

"That's part and parcel of football these days," he said.

"When you look in the papers there's always someone about to lose his job. " As players we just have to get on with it. We're the people who step over the white line and go out to play the game.

"Each one of us has his own responsibility to do his best for manager and the rest of the team."

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