WITH eight of his West Ham United team-mates away on international duty this week, Julien Faubert's mind was cast back to August 16, 2006.

That night, the 25-year-old made his one and only appearance for France, scoring the last-minute winner in a 2-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo.

Despite his match-winning strike, the then-Bordeaux winger has never been called upon again by his country, but he has not given up hope of adding to his solitary cap.

However, Faubert is honest enough to concede that his early season form at Upton Park has been far below international standard.

“Being honest with myself, I don’t think that, with the services I have provided, I can apply for the French team to face Uruguay (in Paris on Wednesday),” he told RTL, “Still, if I can perform well, so that West Ham works, I think I can earn a call-up.”

Back in East London, injuries to central defenders have forced Faubert to fill-in as an emergency right-back at times this season.

And, while he prefers life in a more attacking position, the Le Havre-based player is happy to line up wherever he is asked by new Irons' manager Gianfranco Zola.

“At the beginning of the season, I played on the right side of midfield (under Alan Curbishley),” he explained.

“Zola came and it was decided that I would play right-back. In the 4-3-3 formation, it allows me to get forward a lot.

“As I have already played this position in Bordeaux, adapting has been easy.”

Faubert will be hoping to regain his place in West Ham's starting eleven for this Sunday's Premier League trip to Sunderland after being dropped to the substitutes' bench for Saturday's goalless home draw with Portsmouth.