As a player, Don Hutchison forged a reputation for being a talented and determined midfielder with an eye for goal.

The Scotland international netted 69 times in 524 appearances for club and country, including 17 in 110 matches during two spells with West Ham United.

Fast-forward to the present day and a fit-again Jack Collison is the pretender to Hutchison's throne as the Hammers' goalscoring midfielder.

The 22-year-old has scored five goals in 52 games since making his debut at Arsenal on New Year's Day 2008 and is more than willing to make probing runs beyond the strikers or arrive late in the penalty area to get on the end of a team-mate's pass.

While his career has been disrupted by a serious knee injury that kept him out of action for much of the 2010/11 season, Hutchison believes the Wales international can make his mark - and get his name on the score-sheet regularly - next term.

"I think Jack is a fantastic young player," the 40-year-old told West Ham TV. "He had a bad injury last season and I know he went through a bit of a bad time with his injury.

"It's good to see him back and it might be good for him. A season in the Championship might help progress and help him to learn about the game. Everyone thinks they know the game as a young boy, but it's not until you're 25 or 26 that you learn the game.

"Maybe a season in the Championship will be good for him."

Talking of the Championship, Hutchison is confident that the appointment of Sam Allardyce as the club's 14^th full-time manager should ensure that West Ham's stay in the second tier is a short one.

The former Liverpool, Everton and Sunderland man also dismissed claims that the new boss will rely on direct, unattractive football to guide the Hammers back to the Premier League.

"I think it's positive. I think Sam is a good appointment and I think he's what West Ham need. He's a no-nonsense character and it's a shame that he's been labelled as a 'long-ball merchant' because I don't think he is that type.

"Sam plays to his strengths and sometimes you have to do that and I think this season is one of those times. This season, it's imperative that we get out of the Championship and back into the Premier League.

"It doesn't matter which way we do it, it's going to be a hard task and hopefully Sam will pull it off."

To hear Hutchison's views on West Ham's Championship promotion challenge, his own coaching ambitions and his happiness at former team-mate Paolo Di Canio being appointed as Swindon Town manager, log on to West Ham TV now by clicking the link below.