West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has praised the attitude and ambition of defender Matthew Upson in recent weeks.

Upson has stated his intention to force his way back into the England national squad and warned the Hammers that he may need to leave Upton Park so he could play in European competition and improve his chances with England coach Fabio Capello.

"What Matthew said doesn't concern me," said Zola.

"In fact, it motivates me even more because if a player like Matthew Upson is saying something like that, he is pushing everyone in the right direction.

"I admire people like that. In life you have to be ambitious, you have to look forward all the time. Matthew Upson has that attitude and I like it.

"That is the kind of ambition that makes the player and the manager better. Matthew Upson has been incredible. He is one of the players we will rely on a lot in the future.

"We will talk to him and see that he can be happy staying here. I am the first one to believe that if a player is happy in what he is doing he performs much more."