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Johannesburg - West Ham boss Avram Grant has revealed Benni McCarthy is still not fit enough to play for the club.
The South African striker has been criticised for his weight problems since arriving at Upton Park from Blackburn last winter.
McCarthy has made just seven appearances for West Ham and has so far failed to find the net for the East London outfit.
McCarthy has been battling to lose weight and despite losing eight kilos, Grant believes the 32-year-old is not ready to start for the struggling Hammers.
"I was surprised he was like this," Grant told the Daily Telegraph. "He was brought here to perform and then there was the World Cup in his country.
"I can tell you he's a very nice guy, I don't know why he was like this.
"But he's lost eight kilos and is a very good player and I'm sure he will help us - and that's what's important.
"If I look at the past about many things I will be like many people here at the club who always say 'last year was not this, not that'... I say to everybody 'I don't care what happened. I'm looking forward', and so is Benni McCarthy."
The South African striker has been criticised for his weight problems since arriving at Upton Park from Blackburn last winter.
McCarthy has made just seven appearances for West Ham and has so far failed to find the net for the East London outfit.
McCarthy has been battling to lose weight and despite losing eight kilos, Grant believes the 32-year-old is not ready to start for the struggling Hammers.
"I was surprised he was like this," Grant told the Daily Telegraph. "He was brought here to perform and then there was the World Cup in his country.
"I can tell you he's a very nice guy, I don't know why he was like this.
"But he's lost eight kilos and is a very good player and I'm sure he will help us - and that's what's important.
"If I look at the past about many things I will be like many people here at the club who always say 'last year was not this, not that'... I say to everybody 'I don't care what happened. I'm looking forward', and so is Benni McCarthy."
