WEST Ham striker Freddie Sears knows he has one more chance to prove to Gianfranco Zola that he belongs at the top level before he is demoted back to the bench.

The 20-year-old struggled to make the most of his first start for the club in four months when he was partnered in attack with David Di Michele for the visit of West Brom on Monday night.

He was stepping in for the suspended Carlton Cole, who will also miss this weekend’s trip to Blackburn.

The club’s top scorer’s absence will afford Sears another bite at the cherry against Rovers, and he is well aware that he must grab the opportunity with both hands if he is to become a regular feature under Zola.

“It’s definitely a massive chance for me,” admitted the youngster.

“With Carlton out for two games, I’ve just got to go in and do my best and hopefully get the results for the team and do well for myself.”

While there were the occasional bursts of pace and sharp turns to keep the West Brom defence on their toes, there was little in the way of a killer instinct from Sears, with his only real effort on goal a tame shot that was blocked in the first half.

Despite his lack of minutes on the pitch this season, the forward has been encouraged to be patient by the manager.

He added: “I’ve been doing well in training and he (Zola) just says ‘keep doing what you’re doing, your chance will come. I know you’ll be ready to take it’.

“Obviously it’s a bit frustrating sometimes sitting around waiting for your chance so it’s nice to get out there, to get on the pitch.”

Sears admits he may benefit from a spell out on loan, a route taken by a number of other graduates from the youth set-up.

But with little back-up in the striking department, he has been kept on board and has been expected to gel with the other forwards in the squad.

“Obviously, going on loan somewhere would be something that would interest me,” he continued. “At the start of the season we talked about it, but with the amount of injuries and the numbers in the squad, it’s a bit difficult to send someone out now when we need all the players to be around the team and to make up the bench.

“It’s difficult because you’re playing with different people every game.

“One day you’re with Coley (Carlton Cole), the next day you’re with David (Di Michele) but working with both of them is good.

“You need to get match fitness going and once you get that sharpness, you’re kind of there.”

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