Sam issues Lansbury challenge

Sam Allardyce has urged Henri Lansbury to become more consistent and produce the sort of form for West Ham that he has shown for England U21s.

Hammers boss tells youngster to find more consistency

Sam Allardyce has urged Henri Lansbury to become more consistent and produce the sort of form for West Ham that he has shown for England Under 21s. Lansbury has been regarded as a player of great promise for some time and he has impressed whenever he has linked up with his young colleagues at international level. The midfielder scored twice in last week's 4-0 victory over Belgium for the U21s, including one stunning strike, and was given an opportunity to start for the Hammers against Cardiff on Sunday. He has not been a permanent fixture in the side since arriving at Upton Park on a season-long loan deal from Arsenal last summer and Allardyce admits it has been frustrating. However, the manager remains convinced that he can perform at club level and has issued a challenge to the 21-year-old.

Set the standard

"Under 21 football is a lot easier than Championship football and you get a lot more opportunities to score," Allardyce said in the Daily Mirror. "The Championship is a lot tougher both mentally and physically. "The disappointment is that we know the good form he can show. "One good performance is fine but it sets the standard. He has got to be more consistent. "We know what he can do."