James: I can't afford to be complacent

However, he is taking nothing for granted as he prepares for this weekend's game in Skopje.

"I'm part of the squad and that's all I am until the team is picked," he said.

"I wasn't aware of the stats but I certainly can't afford to be complacent at this or any other stage."

James, who helped cement his England place with several fine saves in the first half of last month's friendly against Croatia at Portman Road, has been assured by Eriksson that playing outside the Premiership will not harm his international chances.

While other high profile West Ham players were sold to keep the club solvent, James has remained at Upton Park after declaring: "I believe all the players here have a certain responsibility for what happened."

The Welwyn-born player has seen Glenn Roeder depart and awaits his successor, but in spite of a tempestuous start to the season at his club, James said: "I'm happy, very happy.

"I'm enjoying my football despite what happened last season and although we've made a promising start, I've had a bit to do at times."

James, for the next week however, is focussing entirely on the international scene and is expecting a demanding match against Macedonia.

He was watching from the substitutes bench 11 months ago when a corner from Macedonia's Artim Sakiri somehow eluded Seaman's reach and ended up in the back of the net.

Sakiri, who spent a few days training with James and his West Ham team-mates before signing for West Bromwich Albion, has since assured everyone it was no fluke and James admitted: "It was a goalkeeper's nightmare.

"He says he meant it and that's fair enough. The only one who really knows is the player himself."

James saw enough in that match at the St Mary's Stadium to know Macedonia are certainly no pushovers, especially on their own patch. "They only lost narrowly to Turkey and they were unlucky to do so by all accounts," he said.

"If we are complacent, it could cost us dearly. We are anticipating a really tough match and our preparations and attitude will have to be spot-on."

James has played behind a variety of central defenders in his spell as England's firstchoice goalkeeper and there looks certain to be a new partnership on Sunday, with Chelsea's John Terry likely to partner Arsenal's Sol Campbell after a kidney infection ruled Rio Ferdinand out of the Macedonia game.

"John is more than capable of coming in and doing a good job," said James. "He's an excellent young player who is only going to get better." Trevor Brooking, BBC TV pundit and West Ham's caretaker manager, said recently he wouldn't swap James for any other goalkeeper in the country and the player himself today confirmed he has talked with Brooking about the future.

"I wanted to know the club's plan of attack, if you like, and what Trevor said was very encouraging," he said.

West Ham's senior players are said to be firmly in favour of Brooking continuing in the job permanently but James said: "That is Trevor's decision and whatever that is, we have to respect it.

"It's not really for me to say if Trevor should take the job. He is a very good talker and has done well in his caretaker spell.

"Whoever gets the job though, whether it's Trevor or someone else, must get us out of the First Division and keep us in the Premiership.

"That has to be the job description."