West Ham boss Zola confident of big things from new signing McCarthy

West Ham United boss Gianfranco Zola has no doubts former Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy will deliver.

Despite McCarthy's lack of Premier League action - only seven starts all campaign - Zola is convinced he can rouse the forward to a season-saving display for the Hammers and book his ticket to the World Cup.

Zola said: "It shouldn't be a big problem. The quality is there, that's what we are looking for. The rest is down to me and my staff to get the best out of him. I have no worries about that. He is determined to do well, to prove himself, and that is a great assurance for us."

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has been scathing about the player's failure to turn up for training and Zola said: "I understand Benni and Sam have different opinions. I don't know the reasons and I don't want to know.

"But I think I know Blackburn wanted to sell him - that's the bottom line. If Benni McCarthy is leaving it is probably because he wasn't playing there and didn't feel appreciated. That's probably the reason why he is leaving. It doesn't mean I want to get involved in the row between the two.

"I will help him very much to get to the World Cup. We are going to give him the chance because if I help him, he will help us. He has the qualities to be a World Cup player and to give West Ham a big boost. So we will co-operate with this."