The survival bid continues for West Ham as they host fellow strugglers Aston Villa tomorrow in the first of a pair of six-pointers.

A win could move Hammers to within a point of safety, and would certainly put them three points behind the Midlands outfit.

And that would be the best possible boost ahead of the following week's equally crucial trip to Bolton Wanderers.

But the match will kick off against a background of more rumours about the future of key players at the club, following suggestions that Fredi Kanoute is looking for a move to get a chance of playing in Europe.

Manager Glenn Roeder has admitted that such reports are unhelpful, but is confident the Frenchman is ready to play a role for the team, whether on the bench or in the starting line-up.

He said: "I know Fredi well enough now and I have a very good working relationship with him; if there was a problem he is not the sort of guy to go and make it first be known in the media.

"He would come and see me to chat things through -- and he hasn't done that because there isn't a problem."

Published Friday, April 11, 2003

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