Scott Parker dreading West Ham's league trip to Manchester United

Scott Parker has said that he is "dreading" West Ham's visit to Manchester United on Saturday as Avram Grant's team tries to recover from losing their first two Premier League games this season. Parker, who has been a transfer target for Tottenham throughout the summer, was asked if he was worried about the trip to Old Trafford. "Yeah obviously. Man United is one of those places you love to go and you love to play and there are times you walk off the field dreading it," he said, after scoring West Ham's late Carling Cup winner against Oxford United last night. "We're under no illusions, it is going to be difficult we've got to go there and do something similar to what Oxford done to us tonight really. We've got to be organised and we've got to try and take our chance when it comes and if we do that we might have a chance." Following United, Chelsea visit Upton Park which raises the prospect of West Ham potentially being pointless after four games. Parker said the next two games would be very tough. "We've not got off to the best of starts with two losses [against Aston Villa and Bolton]. I don't think there's any hiding the fact it's going to be a difficult season and that's the way it is. But it's a difficult season because that's how good the league is, there's a lot of quality teams. Every game's a battle and every game's going to be hard. With Chelsea and Man United coming up, it's not an easy task, but we'll give it a go." While Parker would not discuss his future – he has yet to sign an improved deal – his midfield partner Mark Noble said he wants the 29-year-old to stay. "We need to keep hold of him for the sake of everything," he said. "Me and Scott have played in the centre of midfield together in the last couple of games, I've really enjoyed it and we bounce off each other. I know if he goes forward then I will sit and the other way round. It's like being telepathic and it's great to have that sort of understanding." Grant has made a right-back and striker a priority. "I think we need to strengthen the squad," Noble added. "It's such a long season with so many games, we need to bring quality to the squad. There's no doubt we need to do that. If we can bring in a little bit of quality, a bit of steel then I've got no qualms about that."