Premier Class....

By Neil Ravenscroft
March 21 2004

The latest rumour on the message boards concerns not one, but two midfielders, both Internationals, one on loan and one out of contract.

There is a rumour on UTS that we are in negotiations to bring in International midfielders Steve Lomas and Craig Burley.

Burley has been at preston, but has just parted company with them, having failed to settle anywhere since leaving Derby. This one doesn't seem likely to me, however, as Burley's wage deamnds have always been very high.

Lomas, however, may be a different story, as this report from the West Ham official site shows:-

Alan Pardew is considering loaning Steve Lomas out in order to accelerate his recovery from a long lay-off.

Steve made his first home appearance in nine months to a rapturous reception against Fulham in the FA cup last week, but is still effectively on the comeback trail.

He didn't travel to Burnley, and Alan explains:

"He got a calf injury at the weekend so he is still picking up bits and bobs here and there in his recovery; that is what is going to happen because he has been out of the game a long time.

"We are just taking our time to make sure he is right."

As for that loan possibility, he says:

"I am just thinking about what is best for Steve and for us; we want him up to speed as quickly as possible and that might be the best way of doing it rather than playing reserve games where we feel perhaps he is not getting what he needs out of it - especially the way Steve plays.

"He needs it to be high tempo and be flying around, and obviously reserve games are a bit different to that."

Mind you, Pardew's attitude to Walsall isn't normally too friendly!