Many West Ham fans must be hoping that Benni McCarthy can use his World Cup heartache as motivation to find his goalscoring boots at Upton Park.

The South African striker was signed from Blackburn Rovers during January to help fire West Ham out of the Premier League relegation scrap.

Unfortunately, he struggled for fitness and it was left to others around him to save the Hammers, but only after a nail biting final few months.

In his day McCarthy was one of the finest finishers in world football, but, despite the fact he is South Africa’s all-time top goalscorer, he has now suffered the indignation of being dropped by the side for the World Cup they are hosting.

The World Cup odds had made him a shoo-in to go to the competition and the 32-year-old has had a bad week as this disappointment came only days after West Ham co-owner David Sullivan criticised the forward for being overweight.

If McCarthy wants a future at Upton Park, he really needs to use these problems as a motivational tool to get his fitness back. He needs to work hard on the training ground and show the doubters they have got it all wrong by banging in the goals next season.

The chances are the West Ham co-owners are going to spend money to transform the club during the summer, so unless McCarthy impresses the new manger with both his work-rate and his attitude then he could have a short stay in East London.

The football betting suggests West Ham should achieve mid-table safety, but they can’t afford to carry any deadweight.

Missing out on a World Cup in his homeland will doubtlessly be gutting for him, but there are several ways he could respond to the news and McCarthy needs to ensure he comes out of this well, rather than letting it be the footnote at the end of a fading career.