Charlton Athletic v West Ham United

MANAGER Alan Pardew has confirmed the news all Charlton supporters were waiting to hear with 11-goal top-scorer Darren Bent certain to start Saturday’s relegation test of nerve at home to West Ham.

At Friday afternoon’s packed press conference ahead of one of the Barclays Premier League’s biggest games of the season, Pardew said: “We’ve put two weeks’ hard work into Darren and we’ve no concerns about him not being ready for the game.

“It’s no secret, Darren will start against West Ham, barring some untoward happening overnight. That should give every Charlton fan a lift because he’s a natural goal threat.

“He’s motivated to come back because he’s been out for so long. He’s one of the worst players to have injured because he’s kicking balls when he should have been resting.

“He’s been a nightmare for our physio team and they haven’t stopped moaning about him, though in an enthusiastic kind of way.”

The England international striker, absent for the last seven games with a knee injury, has been sorely missed.

Skipper Luke Young is also available for the first time since damaging knee ligaments in mid-December. But key central defender Hermann Hreidarsson has failed to recover in time from a knee injury.

Algerian international central defender Madjid Bougherra has been prevented from making his home debut by a knee injury sustained against Manchester United two weeks ago.

Talal El Karkouri, suspended for the United game, is available and likely to return to central defence.

Pardew hands a home debut to midfielder Alex Song, who impressed on his first outing at Old Trafford since arriving on loan from Arsenal.

But China captain Zheng Zhi is likely to start on the bench despite his dynamic midfield performance after replacing the injured Amady Faye at Old Trafford.

The sell-out clash sees a first return to The Valley for former Addicks boss Alan Curbishley, whom Pardew played under during his time at the club.

“I hope Alan gets the ovation he deserves,” Pardew added but confessed: “There is a lot of pressure on both of us.”

Since succeeding Pardew at Upton Park in December, Curbishley has won one Premier League game.

* Keep up to date with all the news from The Valley every week in the Bexley Extra.