ANOTHER sterling performance against West Brom showed why Hammers defender Paul Konchesky fully earned his call-up to the England squad for the friendly against Argentina at the weekend, writes Laura Burkin.

Konchesky, 24, an ever present in the Premiership for West Ham this season, has received praise from all quarters for his tough-tackling displays that have seen Hammers produce a number of impressive defensive performances this season and currently sit ninth place in the league table.

With the likes of Arsenal's Ashley Cole out injured, Konchesky has a chance to catch Sven Goran Eriksson's eye before the Swede makes up his mind as to whom he will take to Germany next year.

When the modest Konchesky arrived at Upton Park from Charlton in the summer he believed that any chance of being selected for the national side would be a bonus to him.

He said: "My ambition is to get back into the England squad and hopefully I can do that as a West Ham player. My main aim is of course to keep playing as well as I can for West Ham, keep my place in the team and when that international calls comes, it's a bonus for both me and the club. I just look forward to playing in every game and making sure I can do my best."

And his manager Alan Pardew said that Konchesky was just one of a new batch of players at West Ham who were coming through now for contention on the international field.

With Anton Ferdinand and Nigel Reo-Coker playing regularly for the England U-21's and youngsters Mark Noble, Hogan Ephraim and James Tompkins being picked for the youth sides, Pardew said there was a lot to come from the club in terms of England.

He said: "I'm delighted for him. He's been working hard and playing very well. Paul wasn't in the first team all the time at Charlton for whatever reason that was, but here he's taken his chance, been playing week in week out. I feel his performances have reflected that. It's good to have players at our club being picked for their countries. As well as Paul, there's Matty Etherington and our younger players are also fully involved in the international set-up for England. The club has had a proud history as we all know of producing players for England, and there is now a new batch coming along.

"West Ham will hopefully have a lot to offer when it comes to the England national side."

Konchesky last played for England in a friendly against Australia, at Upton Park in February 2003.

Ferdinand is expected to be in the England U-21 team to face France tomorrow but there is a doubt over Reo-Coker who injured his ankle in West Ham's win over West Brom.