Pearce now a man of influence

West Ham have two left-backs in their dotage who could still turn out for England

On an England trip to Auckland, the then manager Graham Taylor asked if anyone wanted to see the show Les Misérables. Only four out of the party went, and two left after five minutes. It would not entirely surprise anyone to learn that Nigel Clough was one player who watched the whole show. The other? The punk-rock loving, fearsome-tackling Stuart Pearce maybe would not have been everyone's idea of that England squad's cultural attaché.

On an England trip to Auckland, the then manager Graham Taylor asked if anyone wanted to see the show Les Misérables. Only four out of the party went, and two left after five minutes. It would not entirely surprise anyone to learn that Nigel Clough was one player who watched the whole show. The other? The punk-rock loving, fearsome-tackling Stuart Pearce maybe would not have been everyone's idea of that England squad's cultural attaché.

But then neither would it be imagined that he goes out to play on a diet of raw carrot, broccoli and baked beans, as indeed he does. Raw steak is surely Psycho's staple pre-match diet? The problem with giving a footballer such an epithet is that it is tantamount to condemning him for life.

Yet, just as the celluloid Psycho, Norman Bates, was not the diffident motel-owner he seemed, neither is English football's equivalent what he appears. Pearce is a lot more than a supercharged enthusiast, still dashing down the left flank at Upton Park at the age of 38.

There will be more to him, too, than people anticipate when he eventually returns to management. Everyone nodded sagely when his former England team-mate Captain Sensible David Platt revealed that he was gaining every coaching qualification. Of course; obvious managerial material. But the impassioned Pearce, the fellow who thrust his fist to the skies and whose features become a gargoyle of delight when he scored? That was quite a different matter.

Even the prepared Platt has yet to convince the sceptics that he can make the transition from fine midfielder to manager as he enters his 14th month at the City Ground, though the initial signs are that the tide has turned in his favour.

Pearce understands exactly what turmoil Platt is undergoing, having spent six months as caretaker manager there in 1997, post-Frank Clark and Brian Clough. "I'm worldly wise enough to realise that the chances of being successful are significantly less than being a failure," he says. "My eyes are wide open. I'm sure Plattie's were, too. He will have learnt a hell of a lot in the year he's been involved. He took over at a very tricky period for the club, and he'll only gain from the experience of having a bad time."

Pearce, who since leaving Forest has also been on FA coaching courses, adds: "I think my time in charge at Forest did me a favour. Maybe if I'd gone in and we'd won a few games and stayed in the Premiership, and then I'd resigned, as I'd always planned to, anyway, I'd be sitting here thinking, 'this management lark's a doddle'. What happened last time will really prepare me for when I get my feet under the management table again."

He will take into the job the collected wisdom of numerous managers, notably Brian Clough. "He was a gentleman with a very strong personality and it would be impossible for that not to have rubbed off on me," says Pearce. "But I've had a lot of influences in my time, including five international managers. However, I'd want to be my own man."

His present England manager, Kevin Keegan, has not only suggested that he may be called up for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Finland, but issued an invitation to help out with coaching the squad.

"I was with England on Monday and Tuesday," says Pearce. "It is a little bit strange because nobody's really sure if you're there as a coach or as a player. But Kevin said to me, 'Help with the coaching or just mix with the players. Just be around the place. We like having you there.'" As for claiming a 79th England cap, Pearce adds: "Kevin knows that he's only got to say 'I want to name you in my squad' and I'd be there like a shot. If he dropped me without telling me, it wouldn't be a problem, either. The man doesn't owe me anything."

As Pearce details in his new autobiography, Psycho: Stuart Pearce, The Autobiography (Headline, £17.99), his career was salvaged by Harry Redknapp in the summer of 1999 after the then Newcastle manager, Ruud Gullit, informed the defender that his first-team days were over. "Harry rang me and said, 'Come on down. You'll be playing next Saturday'." The defender did, and was made captain. Not only that, but it led to a Keegan call-up. "It's incredible," says Pearce. "One manager doesn't want to know me; the next one stands by me, even through two broken legs. One minute I'm on the point of retiring; the next, I'm pulling on an England shirt again."

Several of West Ham's have the potential to do that. "With all those young players, like Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Frankie Lampard, it's just a pleasure at times to be around and watch them develop," says Pearce. "If Joe and Michael aren't in the full England squad in a few years' time, I'll be disappointed. They've got half a chance of making it if they keep working at their job and don't get ideas above their station." Coming from a man called "Psycho", they might just be advised to listen to a man who knows.