ALAN Curbishley has denied Teddy Sheringham has been "frozen" out of the West Ham squad.

The 41-year-old striker has expressed frustration at being sixth choice forward at the club and revealed last week that he asked to leave when he saw an opportunity to go to Charlton in January.

He told Sky Sports News: "I can't play if no one wants me to play for them."

However Curbs said: "Maybe Teddy's not been involved on a Saturday, or on the bench, but there have been a lot of players in that position and I think he would be the first to admit that he has not been frozen out.

"He is fully involved. He plays a major part in training and I have no problems with the way he trains or applies himself. It's simply a team selection thing.

"In training Teddy is first class, but if you find yourself in the bottom three, you select who you think should be playing. You can't have agendas.

"I pick the team that I think has the best chance of winning. If that includes Teddy, it includes Teddy. I've got other people like Carlton Cole who also haven't featured on the bench and he's fully fit as well."

Curbishley said he had never received a phone call from Charlton boss Alan Pardew over the proposed transfer, but admitted: "If there was an opportunity, perhaps letting a player go to a team who is in the same position as you, might not be the best bit of business."