ZAVON HINES believes he can help fire West Ham out of trouble this season.

The young striker has been feeling his way back into the game after a frustrating 11-month spell on the sidelines through injury. But he claims he is now in perfect shape and has his eyes firmly set on a place in Avram Grant's starting XI.

He made a cameo appearance in Saturday's 3-1 defeat by Manchester City at Upton Park and looked to have got the final touch in West Ham's late consolation goal from James Tomkins' header, although the 21-year-old was reluctant to claim it for his own.

“It’s good to be back. Obviously I just want to play. At the moment I’m not getting much game time, just coming off the bench. But every minute is a bonus for me, considering I’ve been out for 11 months, as I’m just happy to be back,” he said.

“In training I feel sharp, I actually feel very, very good, but it’s up to the manager to make that decision (on whether he plays) and I’m just waiting for that call.”

That call may arrive in the coming weeks, with Grant surely being forced in to rotating his squad, given the heavy schedule of games over the festive period.

“That’s what I’m hoping for but it’s up to the manager whether he’s going to play me or not,” added Hines.

A trip to Blackburn is next on the slate on Saturday, while there is also a clash at Fulham and home games against Everton and Wolves to come over Christmas and New Year.

Hines, like the rest of the squad, is under no illusions that a sizeable haul of points from those encounters is essential if West Ham are to stand a chance of keeping their place in the top flight.

“They’re the games we need to win. I think we can (turn things around). It’s a matter of getting the right results and performing on the day. We’re not having much luck at the moment but we need to just keep focused.”