WEST HAM midfielder Jack Collison believes he can follow in the footsteps of some of the club's greats after being crowned the Young Hammer of the Year.

Collison made his breakthrough into Gianfranco Zola's first team shortly after the Italian's arrival and has not looked back since, making 22 appearances and scoring three goals last season.

Previous winners of the award include Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard and Jermain Defoe; all of which have gone on to make a big impact on the game, and have a number of club honours to their name.

Collison is determined to enjoy similar success, and while the other names on the list went in different directions to pursue their goals, the Welshman wants to win silverware with West Ham.

“For me I’ve only just come into the team this season so I’ve only played 20 odd games and the hard work begins now,” he said. “I haven’t achieved anything but an award like this gives me great confidence to really work hard and keep progressing and hopefully I can be a really big player for West Ham.”

The 20-year-old has had to wait patiently for his chance, but after putting in the hard yards he has found his reward, and that is something he knows he will have to continue, as Zola bids to strengthen the club's squad in the summer.

“I’ve come back every year looking to work hard and last year it was a bit frustrating not being in the squad,” he admitted. “But I got my head down and worked hard. That’s what I’ll have to do at the start of next season because there will be a lot of injured players (coming) back and maybe a couple of fresh faces.”

Collison has been asked to occupy a wide position on the left of a midfield four for much of the season, although he sees his future in the middle. He will have his work cut out to displace the likes of Mark Noble and Scott Parker, but he insists the competition for places is healthy for the team.

“For me, personally, I'd really like to play in the centre, but for the manager, I’d play anywhere. I’d play in goal if he asked me to. I just love being out there and playing football,” he added.

“If you look at the midfielders we’ve got here, we’ve got Scottie Parker to come back, we’re going to have a fully-fit Kieron Dyer – that in itself is going to be like signing a new player. But as I say, the competition for places is going to help us progress as a team and I think we can really push for Europe next year.”