Fredi Story 'bizarre'

Glenn Roeder says that speculation claiming Fredi Kanoute is on his way out of Upton Park is "bizarre" - and reveals he could be back ready to play very soon indeed.

One back page lead story claimed there was an £8m bid pending from Liverpool, but Glenn counters: "We certainly wouldn't entertain any bids whatsoever for Fredi. I don't know what clubs have been linked with him but it would be purely a waste of time.

"It is quite bizarre - Fredi has been out for so long, I have lost count of the weeks now, but it is something like 15 to 16.

"Now there is newspaper speculation about him leaving us in this transfer window and that is completely incorrect."

Fredi is currently in America receiving treatment for a troublesome groin problem that first reared its head against Chelsea in late September and Glenn adds: "He has got a huge job to do for us when he is back - and we feel he is going to come back from the States at the end of this week fully fit.

"In our position, the only thing we want is Fredi Kanoute fit for the rest of the season to play for West Ham.

"I understand when I spoke to Fredi before he went away how determined he is to recover completely and involved in our survival fight.

"He really wants to be involved in playing football again this year - and he wants to do that with us to help us out of the situation we are in.

"He has got a lot of good feelings for West Ham and he wants to make sure we get the job done come the middle of May.

"The last thing at he moment we would want to be doing, having sent our physio John Green out to the States to be with him, is getting him fit for someone else - he wants to be a part of our survival fight."