WEST Ham boss Alan Pardew is ready to set Teddy Sheringham's fresh legs loose on Burnley.

The former England striker was kept in reserve on Tuesday night as West Ham cruised past Southend in the Carling Cup.

But boss Pardew believes he may need Sheringham's quality to unlock Burnley's watertight back line.

"I couldn't afford for Teddy to play on Tuesday, then Saturday and Monday," he explained.

"I think that would have been a tall order for him, but now, I don't see why he can't play for two games at the weekend.

"His presence on the field helps us when a few of our younger boys get a bit stressed.

"That's when Teddy comes in and adds that little bit of quality and he is going to be very important to us this year."

Pardew is also delighted with the way the Hammers have bounced back with successive wins after a surprise 3-1 home defeat to Wigan.

He added: "I felt there were some things we fundamentally did wrong against Wigan and we have since managed to correct them.

"I'm hoping this is going to be a point from where we get stronger."

Pardew is praying a lengthy injury list eases for the weekend double-header against Burnley and Coventry.

He said: "We've had an injury crisis as it stands, without Anton Ferdinand, Hayden Mullins, Steve Lomas, Christian Dailly, Don Hutchison and Andy Melville.

"Any team coping with that in the First Division hasn't done bad, but they are slowly coming back."