Hammers fans have never forgiven Ince from his playing days when he was pictured in a Manchester United shirt before a transfer to Old Trafford was completed, and this weekend's Barclays Premier League clash offers supporters a distraction from their recent abuse of Curbishley.

Unhappy with the style of West Ham's football and last season's mid-table finish, fans turned on Curbishley again this week during the Carling Cup win over Macclesfield when the Coca-Coal League Two side took them to extra-time.

"They have to realise the effect it has when they are not behind us," Curbishley said.

It will be the third league game in a row that Curbishley will face a former United player in the opposite dug-out, with Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes also benefiting from playing under Sir Alex Ferguson.

It gives United plenty of options if they want to select one of their own to eventually take over from Ferguson, and Ince is the latest candidate.

"They are all jostling," he said. "I don't think Hughesy's done any favours by going across the water.

"Whoever goes in there is going to have a massive task to carry that on but I'm sure the three boys and Roy Keane, who has also had a massive rise (at Sunderland), have taken some things from their previous managers."

Ince has been described as a trailblazer for black managers - but Curbishley feels people should also look to the Rovers boss as a fine example of climbing through the ranks in the lower leagues, at Macclesfield and MK Dons.

"I don't know Paul that well but what impressed people was where he started. It was at Macclesfield and he went full in," Curbishley said.

"Some other top players perhaps wouldn't have gone there, they might have waited for something else. But he got in there straight away. I'm sure he's learnt a lot.

"Paul has had a decent start and I am pleased that someone has been promoted from the lower leagues to the Premier League.

"That was the normal route - finishing as a player and going into the lower leagues to cut your teeth. Then get moved up.

"Unfortunately the only way that happens now for a young manager is to take his own team up and stay there. Hopefully that is a positive move and we'll get some more young English managers coming through.

"I know he'll be learning every day because you don't stop learning. I've been working 20 years and every day is different and you have to cope with all sorts of problems.

"His time is totally consumed now by being a Premier League manager. That is what he is going to find, it's a massive call on you but we all love it. You find managers leaving who want to come back for more."

Meanwhile, Carlton Cole is in talks with the club over a new contract as he has two years left on his current deal.

"I am just looking forward to a bright future and when the time is right the deal will be done," said the striker.

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