Hammers in weekend action

While West Ham United's first-team squad have a weekend free from Premier League action, no fewer than ten of the club's players could be lacing up their boots on Saturday.

Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole are all in Fabio Capello's England squad for the friendly international against Slovakia at Wembley, while Jonathan Spector, James Collins, Radoslav Kovac and Academy goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet could all be in action for their respective nations.

At club level, Jordan Spence, Joe Widdowson and Jack Jeffery are on loan at Leyton Orient, Grimsby Town and Eastbourne Borough respectively.

Green, Upson and Cole all featured in England's most recent international, the 2-0 friendly defeat to Spain in Seville last month, and all three could again be called upon by Capello as he completes his preparations for next Wednesday's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley.

Spector returns to the United States squad for the first time since last June, having recently recovered from a serious hip injury. The 23-year-old could be named in Bob Bradley's team when the Americans host El Salvador in their CONCACAF 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Miami.

Czech Republic international Kovac will be eager to earn his 30th cap for his country when they travel to Slovenia for their 2010 FIFA World Cup Group Three qualifier in Celje.

Collins, who has been out with a minor hamstring injury suffered in the 2-1 Premier League defeat at Bolton Wanderers on 21 February, is expected to return in Wales coach John Toshack's squad in Saturday's 2010 FIFA World Cup Group Four qualifier against Finland at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Goalkeeper Mehmet, meanwhile, will hope to keep his place as Turkey continue their bid to qualify for this summer's UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals in Germany in May. Turkey, with Mehmet between the sticks, drew 2-2 with Wales in their opening Elite round qualifying match on Thursday. They face Romania in their second of three fixtures on Saturday.

In the Football League, England Under-19 defender Spence will be looking to keep his place in the Leyton Orient side for the O's home League One fixture against Oldham Athletic. In League Two, Widdowson's Grimsby Town host Aldershot.

Finally, in the Blue Square Premier, striker Jeffery will be keen to be part of the Eastbourne starting eleven when they travel to Salisbury City.