Crystal Palace are set to take on an out of form West Ham United at the weekend.
Martin Keown has told the Daily Mail that he believes Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew will want to prove that he is ready to manage England.
The Three Lions job is once again available, following the dismissal of Sam Allardyce earlier in the month.
Pardew is considered to be one of the leading candidates to land the England job, and Keown feels that the 55-year-old will use that as added motivation to keep Palace’s momentum going, ahead of the Eagles’ match against West Ham United this weekend.
“There is a certain irony in this fixture for Alan Pardew,” Keown said. “He’s been battling away with Palace, he’s up against the club that showed him the door and will want to show why he should considered for the England job. He will be relishing this match.
“Pardew’s managerial career has been a bit like a heart monitor – there have been big ups and downs everywhere he’s been. Palace are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games – winning three and drawing two – and they need to keep their momentum going.”
Palace go into the match with the Hammers as the favourites to win, after their strong run of form.
Pardew’s side are currently in seventh place in the Premier League table, with their performances over the early part of the campaign catching the eye.
West Ham, meanwhile, have raised headlines for rather different reasons. The Hammers went into the new term expecting to compete for a European spot, but things have not gone according to plan yet.
West Ham are down in 18th place as things stand, and they can ill afford to lose at Selhurst Park on Saturday, otherwise they will be dragged into even further trouble.
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