Faubert's French fancy

Julien Faubert has not one but two new managers to impress this season.

The West Ham United player is targeting a place in Avram Grant's side this term - possibly in an advanced attacking role - while he is also aiming to catch the eye of new France coach Laurent Blanc.

With the 23 players who represented Les Bleus at the 2010 FIFA World Cup suspended for the forthcoming friendly with Norway, Faubert knows he has a chance to add to the single cap he earned against Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2006.

To give himself the best chance of inclusion, the Le Havre-born player is planning to hit top form for the Hammers.

"I'm happy to be back because I love football. We are playing pre-season games and we're doing well and looking forward to our game against Aston Villa. We have to keep going and be ready.

"We just come in and the manager has done what he has had to do. We had a hard season last season, so he's come in and he knows his football. He managed a big team before and he has big ambition and that is what we want and what we need. Everyone is happy and is hoping we have a good season.

"I hope to be involved [for France]. I am 26 so I hope all the time. We'll see what Laurent Blanc wants to do but it's better for me because the door was closed when Raymond Domenech was there. Now everything has changed and we'll see for the next selection. I have to play well in every game and we'll see."

Faubert has been employed on the right of the front-three in pre-season, scoring in last week's 2-0 friendly victory at MK Dons. While results are going well on the field, the 26-year-old was also encouraged by the squad being put together at the club.

"The big thing is to play as a team. We have to keep the best players, but we have to play as a team. The manager has said that we can have the big players and the best players, but if we don't play as a team then we can lose the game. Not only one player makes a team - we have to stay together.

"We need the best players but we have to stay all together. It's better for us if we have Scott Parker because he is very important for us. He did very well last season and it's better to keep all the players - not only him - like Greeny, Coley and Matthew Upson. All these players can help us and that's what we need.

"After last season we had to change something. We changed owners and now we have changed the manager.

"We needed some new players and Thomas has arrived and he is a good player, as have Fred Piquionne and Pablo Barrera as well. I think this is good because after last season we had to change something. We have to do better and that's what we want."