WEST HAM boss Gianfranco Zola believes Kieron Dyer could hold the key to Europa League qualification after the midfielder made his long-awaited return to action against Blackburn Rovers last week.

The 30-year-old made his first appearance for the club after a two-month injury lay-off, coming on as a late substitute for David Di Michele.

But his comeback could barely have come at a better time for Zola, who has had to endure the loss of two vital cogs in his midfield engine, after Jack Collison and Valon Behrami were both ruled out after respective knee injuries.

Dyer came through ten minutes of action unscathed, and could even have won a penalty for his team, but his appeals were waved away by referee Chris Foy after going down under the challenge of Christopher Samba.

Dyer will have the benefit of two weeks on the training ground before the team’s next match – against Sunderland at Upton Park – and he could be thrown straight in at the deep end by Zola, with a lack of pace in the side clearly evident on the basis of the draws against West Brom and Blackburn.

Zola knows that the former Newcastle winger can still have a big say in the club’s fortune this season.

He said: “It’s brilliant, I’m very pleased for him. He is a player that can make a big difference for us. He had 10 minutes today and now he’ll have two weeks to prepare. It’s very important.”