Olsen Optimistic

Petter Olsen, one of two Norwegians on trial from Brann Bergen, is confident he can show Glenn Roeder enough in a week to earn a contract at Upton Park.

Like colleague Azar Karadas, he is hoping to secure a future with West Ham, and he says: "I think I have pace and speed, I am technical and can score goals, and will try to impress the manager with my skills.

"I think I have adapted quite well to the style West Ham play and have fitted in quite well so far."

Does Petter know what sort of fee would be asked for his services?

"I really don't know," he admits, "but they have to be realistic about it, and hopefully if that question is coming up it will be sorted out in the best interests of me and the club.

"I am here for just over a week; I will just try to do what I am good at and hopefully the manager will like what he sees.

"I hope I can impress the manager - it would be great for me to come here."

The Norwegian campaign has just ended, and he says: "I had quite a good season, which was my first in the top flight, scored 13 goals and played in all the games."

A third Scandinavian player, goalkeeper Dime Jankulowski, is also on trial, and Glenn Roeder says: "We have brought a couple of Norwegian lads and a Swedish goalkeeper over; the season in Scandinavia has now finished so it is possible to get the boys in.

"They are only training with us; they are not allowed to play games, but we've been able to have a look at them and they have acquitted themselves well.

"But whether we decide to take any of them on is something we still haven't made a decision about - it remains to be seen."

He admits there is quite a gulf in class between Norway and the Premiership, but adds: "It is quite a step up but you have to say that, in recent years, quite a number of players have made that step successfully.

"But it has been good to have them around the place. Scandinavian players are always decent people to work with, and certainly bring a fantastic attitude with them.

"We are assessing their abilities, and if we allow all three to go back, we know what they are capable of doing, and if we ever want to do anything at a later stage we know where to find them."

But Glenn is reluctant to discuss other possible targets nearer to home, explaining of the rumours doing the rounds: "All these players are attached to other clubs at the moment but most of the time it is speculation.

"They get one or two right but I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable talking about another manager's players; it is the wrong thing to do and it can unsettle that particular player if the manager says he wants him.

"I don't like it if managers start talking about my players in that way."