Green up for the fight

Hammers star knows he must step up

Last updated: 6th October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Green up for the fight

Green: Focused on England

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Robert Green knows he will need to be on "top form" to become England's No.1 - but the West Ham goalkeeper has no intention of dwelling on his howler against Bolton.

Green was named in the England squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus despite gifting Kevin Davies the opening goal in West Ham's 3-1 defeat to Bolton.

Green has only one full cap, against Colombia during the 2005 tour of the United States, after his World Cup dreams of two years ago were shattered when he suffered a ruptured groin while taking a goal-kick during the England B international against Belarus at the Madejski Stadium.

Green faces a fight with David James and Scott Carson to become England's No.1 and the former Norwich keeper accepts he needs to be more consistent if he is to become a regular in the England side.

"I want to play and I want to be involved, but you need to be on top form," said Green. "However, these things happen in life. It is gone and it will give me something to work on while I am away with England."

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola backed Green in the aftermath of the defeat to Bolton and Green is determined not to let the mistake affect him.

Bad mistake

"It was a bad mistake and I will do some extra work on the training ground and practice catching - it is as simple as that," added Green.

"It is something that happens, and for keepers it is an occupational hazard, making mistakes.

"We were disappointed because we were controlling the game then and [the goal] really changed the complexion of the game.

"If that happens in the last minutes of game when you are winning 5-0, then you take it with a pinch of salt - but that is football and that is life.

"You treat the successes and failures that you have in the same way. You just have to learn from them and work on them."

Green added: "I have made mistakes in the past and I am sure I will make a few in the future, so I will get on and work hard and put the wrongs right.

"I will be twice as determined to get things right come the next game in two weeks' time."