Pardew's concern at blades

West Ham manager Alan Pardew is to lodge a complaint to The Football Association regarding the use of blades on boots, following a nasty injury to Neil Mellor.

The on-loan Liverpool striker has not featured for The Hammers since the Carling Cup defeat to Tottenham after he suffered a gash to his foot.

Mellor's injury is taking time to heal and Pardew is in no doubt that the blades were responsible for the wound.

Pardew believes blades are far more dangerous than traditional studs and has floated the idea of preventing them from being used.

"Neil Mellor's foot is slow healing," Pardew told the club's website. "It was a very bad wound that he took.

"I have a strong feeling that the injury he had wouldn't have happened without these new blades.

"It is something I am going to contact The FA about. I know they have had problems with them before. Some clubs have banned them and certainly I think they need to be looked at.

"There is no way he would have got that injury with studs, I am sure of it. He has taken a tackle and almost been cut open which I only believe can happen with blades.

"I want to check it out with The FA although that is peripheral to our problems at the moment. I know The FA are looking at it and they will get a report from me about it."

Pardew has received a lift, though, with David Connolly's return to training after a thigh injury.

"David has trained and with the suspension of Jermain (Defoe) kicking in at Watford, it is absolutely essential that David comes through," added Pardew.

"We have to be careful with him but he looked very fresh and nice and lively in training."