West Ham look to Hartson

JOHN HARTSON makes his home debut for West Ham tonight against Tottenham Hotspur insisting: "I won't change my aggressive ways."

The Welsh international has an unenviable disciplinary record with his booking in his first appearance for West Ham setting him up for a two match ban.

But while the £3.3 million signing from Arsenal wants to improve his poor record, he is determined that by doing so he will not detract from his natural game.

Hartson said: "I am trying to work on it but if people are asking me to pull out of 50-50 tackles then I just cannot do that because it takes away my natural game.

"I fight for the cause and go in for every ball I think I can win. I am aggressive but there is no malice and I have never gone into a tackle in my life to hurt anybody."

West Ham boss Harry Redknapp was criticised in some quarters for splashing out such a big fee on a still relatively inexperienced 21 year old.

But Hartson is not worried about his enormous price tag and is determined to score the goals to keep West Ham from their third relegation in nine years.

He added: "I don't set the fee, it has nothing to do with me. It doesn't matter if I cost £10 million or £1 million, I just put on the shirt and give 100 percent and do my best."

Spurs manager Gerry Francis is once again hampered by injuries and admitted that he has all but written off this season. One piece of good news is that England striker Teddy Sheringham is in contention for tonight's game at Upton Park having scored twice in a comeback reserve game on Wednesday night.

John Scales has also recovered from a hamstring injury but is still well short of match fitness, while Sheringham's partner Chris Armstrong could return to full training next week.

Francis said: "It is very frustrating going into your dressing room and seeing the likes of Sheringham, Armstrong, and Scales all standing there but knowing that you can't pick them.

"We have done well to hang on in the top half of the table and our problem has been scoring goals."