WEST Ham midfielder Hayden Mullins insists he is doing all he can to establish himself as the permanent partner to Mark Noble in the centre of midfield, at the expense of the position's current occupier Scott Parker.

The 29-year-old is currently third in line behind his two team-mates, but he will have given manager Gianfranco Zola a selection headache for the trip to Newcastle on Saturday after an accomplished display in the Hammers' 3-0 FA Cup third round win over Championship side Barnsley at Upton Park at the weekend.

Mullins, a veteran of over 170 games for the club since he was signed by Alan Pardew in 2003, has fallen down the pecking order following the emergence of 21-year-old midfielder Noble and the signing of Parker from Newcastle United 18 months ago.

But despite having to settle largely for a place on the bench this season, the former Crystal Palace player is keen to break into Zola's first-team plans, and he knows he must make the most of every opportunity he is afforded.

He said: “I'm just waiting for my chance at the moment. Me and Scott are fighting for the one place and it's hard, but you've just got to try and get on with it.

“It's a case of trying to do well in training and when I get a chance on the pitch. The manager's trying to keep everyone happy and it's difficult. Scotty has the shirt at the moment but I've just got to keep working hard and doing well when called upon."

Ironically, Mullins may gain promotion through the back door, as Parker is one of a number of the team's players to have been linked with moves away from East London, with the the midfielder attracting several longing gazes from Manchester City's oil-rich owners, despite West Ham's indignant claims that the former Chelsea player is not for sale.

However, Mullins is keen to earn his stripes and is reluctant to see any of his team-mates leave during the January transfer window as the team bid to continue their recent good run of form, which has seen them win each of their last three games.

"Things like that appear in the papers and a lot of the lads have had to deal with that in the past, but they're just things you have to deal with and put out of your head,” he added. “We just have to focus on getting as high as we can up the league and get as far as we can in this competition (the FA Cup). “Obviously we got to the final a couple of years ago so we know it's possible and we want to get there again. That's a realistic target for us."