Matthew Upson: I want to play in Champions League

Matthew Upson last night warned West Ham he is "desperate" to play in the Champions League - and claimed it is crucial to his World Cup hopes.

Upson fears he will always lag behind John Terry and Rio Ferdinand in the England pecking order unless he starts playing regular European football at the highest level.

That is clearly a major warning to West Ham, who have missed out again on Europe next season and are a long way from challenging the Big Four.

Hammers defender Upson, 30, insists he is happy at Upton Park but could not hide his desire to get back into the Champions League to push his career forward.

Upson said: "I am desperate to play in the Champions League and that is where I want to be. I have played there with Arsenal and had that experience as a younger player. I would love to achieve that again.

"I really enjoy watching Champions League action. As a player it is the best football to watch.

"Being first choice for England is in my mind. That's what I'm striving for every day. I'm coming from a negative position in terms of where Rio and JT have been.

"They're well-established, solid and to come in and make myself a permanent fixture in the team is a very difficult task, but it doesn't mean it's impossible for me. It's not my selection, but I just have to keep pushing. The World Cup is a year away, too far away and it's too early to say.

"I would definitely agree that more European experience in a campaign would help me.

"Playing in the Champions League every season definitely puts you in a position where you can compete against the best players in the world.

"I know that the Premier League holds a lot of those player but worldwide there's a lot of different talent, different tactical situations you're going to find yourself in other than the Premier League.

"So that definitely favours Rio and JT when they are playing in the Champions League every year."

Upson's outburst is certain to alert clubs to his desire to get back into Europe's major club competition, having played 10 games in the tournament for former club Arsenal.

The Hammers are desperate to keep hold of Upson, but may struggle if a bigger club comes in with an offer of European football and a chance to play in the Champions League.

Upson, set to keep his place alongside Terry in England's central defence to face Andorra, stresses that Gianfranco Zola has been good for his career and has helped him become an England squad regular.

However, Upson warned West Ham's new owners, asset management company CB Holding, that they must spend to keep the club moving forward.

"Gianfranco Zola has definitely been good for me," said Upson. "We are coached one way in this country and the Italian way is different.

"Fabio Capello is trying to coach that into us as well.

"It would be really nice to build on what we've got at West Ham. We have got the right man in charge. He has done an excellent job and it would be nice to see the new owners spending money and taking the team on.

"At the moment I am enjoying my time at West Ham and pleased that they are going to make some positive investment in the team.

"Hopefully, we will see where we go from there."

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