CROCKED midfielder Valon Behrami hopes to be playing for West Ham United early next season.

Behrami is currently receiving treatment at his home in Lugano, Switzerland, for cruciate knee ligament injury sustained in West Ham's 1-0 home win against Manchester City in March.

While the 24-year-old will miss the start of the new season on Saturday, August 15, he hopes to be vying for a place in the team shortly after.

His recovery routine includes plenty of swimming and pushing himself as much as possible on the rehabilitation machines and exercise bikes.

The Hammers have been kind enough to fly over a member of the medical staff to ensure the Swiss international reaches peak physical fitness quickly.

He said: "My work is going very well and if I continue like this on August 10 I will start back with the team, try to kick the ball and join in with my team mates.

"After two or three weeks working at a high intensity, in the last week of August I hope to be back in the team for a game."