SCOTT Parker has been urged to go for goal more often by West Ham manager Alan Curbishley.

The Irons midfielder has hit the net just once - the winner in the 2-1 win at Middlesbrough in December - in 18 appearances this season.

But Curbishley, who oversaw Parker's development during the pair's time at Charlton Athletic, believes the England man can turn into a real goal threat if only he would shoot more often.

"He ran himself into the ground against Newcastle. I did say him to after I wish you'd shoot just a little bit more'," admitted the Hammers boss.

"He's getting himself into that final third and trying to play other people in, but have a shot and it might just hit someone and go in the other corner."

Curbishley pointed out that the Magpies equaliser had come about in just those circumstances, Obafemi Martins' bouncing shot going in off the forehead of fellow African Geremi.

"I think their second goal was an example of that," he added.

"It comes out and is smashed back in and I think it is going wide before Geremi touches it."

Parker has scored just 19 goals in 270 career appearances for West Ham, Newcastle, Chelsea and Charlton, while he has failed to hit the net in the three games he has played for England.

The 27-year-old's has never scored more than four goals in a season - a feat he has managed three times, in 2002/03 and 2003/04 at Charlton and in 2006/07 for Newcastle.

Despite his poor goalscoring record, Parker did manager two in a 4-2 win over West Ham at The Valley in January 2003.