West Ham's Benni McCarthy hoping to play against Sunderland
West Ham United striker Benni McCarthy is hoping to play some part in his side’s fixture against Sunderland when the English Premier League clubs clash in the Carling Cup tonight.
Hammers boss Avram Grant has insisted that he will field a full-strength side when his team visits the Stadium of Light.
32-year-old McCarthy has been struggling with his weight and has been trying to shed the pounds. The issue has become a big problem for both the South African and his club, with West Ham co-owner David Sullivan having publicly slammed the player for his
condition and insisting that McCarthy should be placed on an intensive weight-loss program with strict targets to meet.
But it has been reported by the media that McCarthy has been fined by the club on several occasions for failing to meet said targets. He is believed to have been forced to hand back around £80,000 of his wages to the club as he struggles to return to optimum
fitness.
Ready for action
McCarthy now believes that those troubles are behind him and is ready to begin featuring for the first-team on a more regular basis, having made just seven appearances since joining the Hammers in February.
He told the Daily Mail that, “I feel extremely sharp and good. If a chance comes my way, I would like to grab it.”
Meanwhile, Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is set to make his first start for the club since he joined in the summer in the West Ham match.
He told the club’s official website that, "My fitness is getting better; my condition is quite good and I think I am ready to play now. My condition for the Arsenal game meant it wasn't good to risk anything and [not starting] was a good decision. This game
will be a stepping stone for me for Sunderland. I will be grateful to the manager if I start because I think I am ready."
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