Sinclair Stays

Trevor Sinclair has responded to a newspaper report claiming he is set to sign for Newcastle United today by once again saying: "I'm perfectly happy where I am!"

Unaware of a story suggesting that 'he hopes it will improve his England chances' if he moves north, Trevor says: "To be honest I don't know anything about it; I've not been reading the papers because we are training all day but people have said to me this bid or that has gone in.

"We set off at 9.00am and yesterday, leaving at 5.00pm, was the earliest I have finished since the pre-season began.

"At the end of the day I'm just getting on with my work; I can't let things like that interfere with my training to get the fitness back, which is important that I stay focused on.

"I'm definitely happy at West Ham and looking forward to the first game on Friday.

"I'm not leaving unless I'm told I'm being sold, which I haven't been, so the way I look at it I'm a West Ham player - I can't wait for my first West Ham game this pre-season and I'm looking forward to the start of the Premiership campaign."

He is recovering from missing the end of the season through injury and adds: "Training is going very well; everyone is working really hard, there is a good team spirit down here, and we are all working in the right direction.

"It is a case of 'bring on the games' really. Everyone has come back in great shape to be honest, and I think the gaffer is delighted the way the lads are approaching training.

"It's been really good with the new set up now and everyone is enjoying it."

He says there is a different atmosphere under the new regime and adds: "We have not got so many trialists there and some of the young lads have been brought into the squad with the first team and we are all training together, so there is good camaraderie there.

"But it's hard work at the moment and there is not a lot of time to rest between training. Everyone is getting their stamina right but everyone is dealing with it well and being very professional.

"There were a lot of trialists and you wouldn't get chance to get to know a lot of them or sometimes see a lot of them; now we are seeing the same faces every day and getting to know each other."