Horlock deal confirmed

Kevin Horlock has completed a £300,000 switch to West Ham - and could make his debut against Sheffield United at Upton Park tomorrow afternoon.

The 30-year-old Northern Irish international this morning put pen to paper on a 3-year-deal which will keep him at Upton Park until 2006. The fact that a fee was involved is somewhat surprising as the board had said earlier in the month that the only players coming into the club would be loan signings.

The deal was confirmed by Hammers MD Paul Aldridge who said simply:

"We welcome Kevin back to the club - and we look forward to him settling in quickly."

And settle in quickly he may have to, with a call up to tomorrow's first team squad a certainty. With Steve Lomas and Michael Carrick both definitely out tomorrow Horlock will be in Glenn Roeder's squad of 16 to face one of the first division's fancied teams.

Reaction to the news of Horlock's arrival has been somewhat less than overwhelming however; as yet another Premiership reserve makes his way to the Boleyn supporters are once again questioning the ambition of the club, who appear content to bring in first division quality players on relatively long contracts.

Whilst supporters will no doubt welcome new faces at a time when the club are fully stretched in terms of playing staff, it is unlikely that the calibre of players such as Horlock will meet the expectations of supporters used to watching the likes of Joe Cole and Trevor Sinclair.

The former Manchester City man becomes Glenn Roeder's fifth summer signing, following David Connolly, Rob Lee, Matt Etherington and loanee Neil Mellor.