West Ham defender George McCartney insists the club are yet to give up hope of playing in Europe next season.The Hammers are currently 10th in the Premier League but are 13 points adrift of fifth-placed Everton, who occupy the UEFA Cup place, while the Intertoto Cup could offer Alan Curbishley's side another route into continental competition.

The Northern Ireland international, an ever present for the Hammers this season, is pleased with the progress being made at Upton Park and admits a European berth would give them a better chance of attracting bigger names to the club.

"We are still sitting in mid-table a few points ahead of Tottenham and we are looking at the teams above us," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

"If you are playing every week in the Premier League, you are going to improve as a player and you will mature as well as people say you will get better with age.

"The manager has brought in new signings in the summer and we have an outside chance of getting a European place which would help us attract players to the club."

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