Sinclair happy he stayed a Hammer

Ken Dyer13 April 2012

West Ham's players can hardly wait for tomorrow's Premiership clash against mighty Manchester United, but no one is relishing the challenge more than Trevor Sinclair.

If things had turned out as planned for Sinclair, however, he would have been plying his trade somewhere else by now, instead of looking forward to completing a Premiership 'double' over the champions.

Back in October, Sinclair, disillusioned by what he considered to be a lack of ambition from the Upton Park club, decided to put in a transfer request.

A clutch of clubs declared their initial interest, but their enthusiasm soon waned when they learned that West Ham had put a prohibitive £10 million fee on their midfielder's head.

In the event and in the light of that fee, nothing happened.

Sinclair came off the list, decided to knuckle down, won his first international cap and now admits he is feeling much happier with life.

"I began to feel a little unsettled at the start of the season," he recalls. "We'd sold two of our best players in Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard.

"I'd committed myself to the club because of what I had been told and, basically, I couldn't see the promises being carried through. I was disappointed.

"In the end I asked for a transfer. The club put an unrealistic price on me which effectively shut the door on any move.

"I was nearly 29 years old, no caps, no honours and no club was going to pay £10m for me.

"I decided to knuckle down, play as well as I could and see what happened. None of this was down to the gaffer, though. I can't praise Glenn Roeder enough.

"He's steadied the ship, made some good signings and put a lot of effort into getting this club back up to the top half of the table. I believe he will get us back to where we were and beyond."

The former Queens Park Rangers star also claims that he has felt much more settled recently.

He admitted: "I've enjoyed this season. We got whacked a couple of times at the beginning, but that made the lads bond closer if anything. I must admit I didn't feel part of it for a time, though. The transfer thing was there and I was playing for myself as well as the team.

"In the end I decided to withdraw the request and straight away I felt happier. I am one of those people who need to feel part of the group.

"It's important I enjoy my work the same as anyone else. It's no good slogging away at any job and feeling pissed off, is it?

"Feelings can often overflow into the family and I didn't want that to happen.

"I'm much happier now. I've got my first England cap and want to add to that.

"I was so disappointed to miss out on the last match in Holland, but I had a really bad virus and I was just too ill to go."

With Michael Carrick and Steve Lomas likely to return from injury tomorrow, Sinclair looks set to switch from the centre to the left side of West Ham's midfield and he has no complaints about that.

"I've been playing there for most of this season and I feel comfortable there now," he says. "Realistically I know that playing on the left remains my best chance of winning more England caps.

"There's 10 games to go and I will be doing everything I can, both to help West Ham go up that table and impress the England management.

"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's match, but who wouldn't be?

"Manchester United will remember we beat them up there and they will want to prove to us that they are the best.

"What's the old adage? There's nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal?"

West Ham v Man Utd
3pm, tomorrow, Upton Park

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