Source: Team_Talk
No breaks in store for Hammers' stars
West Ham boss Avram Grant admits he does not have the luxury of resting some of his first-team regulars in the Carling Cup.[LNB] The Hammers got off the mark in the Premier League when Scott Parker's goal earned them a 1-1 draw at Stoke on Saturday.[LNB]Now they face Sunderland in the third round of the Carling Cup and Grant sees the game as a real chance to get a win under their belts.[LNB]He said: "You need points and we took our first point. We could have taken three, because I think we played very well and reacted well after their goal, so there are many positives we can take to the next games.[LNB]"The staff and the players did a good job and that's what is important. The most important thing is that the team continues focusing and takes more points.[LNB]"We want to win any game - friendly games, league games and also in the Carling Cup - so we will go to this game and we want to win and we want to be in the next round.[LNB]"But Valon Behrami (knee) got injured on Saturday and also Thomas Hitzlsperger is injured. So we won't have players resting as they'll play tomorrow.[LNB]"This is an opportunity to see the other players. We have good players in the squad and they will play tomorrow.[LNB]"The most important thing is the league and building something for the future. I think the Carling Cup is like a bonus.[LNB]"We like this bonus of winning, so we want to win and we will do everything to be in the next round."[LNB]Meanwhile Czech midfielder Radoslav Kovac is hoping to retain his place in the side for the trip to Sunderland.[LNB]Kovac was introduced as a second-half substitute for the injured Behrami against Stoke.[LNB]Having helped the club pick up their first Premier League point of the season in the Potteries, Kovac is now eyeing a place in the side at the Stadium of Light.[LNB]The 30-year-old former Spartak Moscow star is also eager to be involved in the London derbies with Tottenham on Saturday and Fulham on October 2.[LNB]"It was good for us to get a point because it was a very hard game," said Kovac.[LNB]"We have lost our last three games, so to get a draw and not lose gives us a real boost. From now, our confidence can get better and better and better.[LNB]"I enjoy the physical battle against Stoke every time, putting in challenges and winning headers.[LNB]"We go to Sunderland tomorrow and we need to get a result there to set us up well for Tottenham. We have two important home games coming up and I hope to be in the starting line-up for both of them.[LNB]"I didn't play in the last three games, but I felt very good physically when I came on. This is because I have played two full matches for the reserve team. It is very important that I played these games.[LNB]"The games I played at Leicester and Everton were important for me because they enabled me to keep my match-fitness. They were very good."
