Hartson aims to frustrate Hammers

Coventry will rely on Hartson's firepower

West Ham boss Harry Redknapp hopes to have Shaka Hislop, Paolo di Canio and Igor Stimac back from injury for the Premiership clash with Coventry at Upton Park.

Should Stimac play, the Croatian defender will renew his rivalry with the Welsh hardman John Hartson, who completed his move to struggling Coventry City last week.

I like John and have got a lot of time for him. When I signed him he was absolutely on fire

  Harry Redknapp,
West Ham boss

The two had a series of battles when Stimac was at Derby and Hartson played for West Ham, with the Welsh international earning a red card, during an Upton Park clash for throwing a punch at Stimac.

Hartson is hoping to help preserve Coventry's Premiership status as he did for West Ham four years ago.

His decision to leave Arsenal for the Hammers in 1997 revived his career, and the club he joined in a £3m deal.

Looking for goals

He contributed five goals in 11 games to help Harry Redknapp's side avoid the drop, alongside fellow new boy Paul Kitson.

Hartson carried on where he left off with 24 goals in his first full season.

Stimac returns to face Hartson

"I like John and have got a lot of time for him," said Redknapp.

"When I signed him he was absolutely on fire and I think he was the best centre forward in the country for 20 or 30 games.

"There was nobody better and he was almost unplayable at that time. Every time you put the ball into the box, John was coming out of a crowd of players like Superman and scoring goals.

"Whether he can produce that kind of form again remains to be seen, but Coventry are obviously hoping he can."

There is no doubt Coventry manager Gordon Strachan will be looking for one thing from his new signing - goals.

Troubleshooter

The Sky Blues have failed to find the net in their last three outings and they need to put that right immediately if they are to avoid the drop.

With Hartson now on board after his on-off-transfer saga, Strachan is looking to him to fire the club out of the relegation zone.

The Coventry boss said: "There has been a lot of disappointment in the camp because it seemed like John was here then he wasn't. Now we've got him and I think he is a bargain.

Strachan hopes Hartson is the saviour

"If he had been here two months ago we might be in a better position than we are in now.

"We are not scoring goals and we all know that. We are in trouble and we want John to help us out of that - I remember he did that at West Ham."

Coventry are without the suspended Paul Williams and could have Gary Breen and John Eustace out with injury, while striker Cedric Roussel makes way for Hartson.

Carrick rumours

Redknapp, meanwhile, dismissed speculation that Michael Carrick will be joining Newcastle in the summer.

Reports linked The Magpies with a £10m bid for the England under-21 midfielder who was born in Wallsend.

But Redknapp told BBC London Live 94.9: "We are currently preparing a new five-year contract for Michael.

"I'm not aware of Newcastle interest and he is not for sale. It looks like his agent is trying to stir things up."