Gary O'Neil is looking forward to renewing old rivalries when West Ham United entertain Southampton next Tuesday evening.

The 29-year-old has made an impressive return from a long-term ankle injury in December, making three appearances as Sam Allardyce's side have taken over top spot in the npower Championship table.

With captain Kevin Nolan now suspended for three matches, O'Neil is targeting a starting place against both the Saints after being named on the bench for three of the previous four matches. That said, he knows the Hammers are a stronger side when their skipper is available.

"I'm not sure what the gaffer will do - whether he will change the formation or whatever - but it is a shame to lose Nobby as he has been an integral part of what we have done this year," said O'Neil. "He has played every game, so it is disappointing to lose him. Hopefully we will get him back as soon as possible and we can carry on and not miss him too much while he is away."

For O'Neil, his early return from injury - he was initially expected to be out of action until April - has been a double-edged sword. On the one hand, he is delighted to be playing again, but on the other it has been slightly frustrating knowing he is not quite yet at 100 per cent fitness.

"It's tough because you feel like you're in no-man's land a little bit when you've worked as hard as I've had to to get back into the game and get thrown in at Sheffield Wednesday and Derby when I wasn't 100 per cent really.

"It was good to get the games, but then you have to come back again as everyone gets back fit and it is difficult to get into a team that is doing as well as ours is. With the strength we have got in there and me having a long time out through injury, it is hard to force your way back in, but I am happy to just be in and around it."

With Saturday's match at Peterborough called off after a pitch inspection, the former Portsmouth midfielder is itching to be involved when the Saints visit the Boleyn Ground on Valentine's Day

"Every time I have played Southampton in the past was with Portsmouth and it was a bit like the Millwall game in terms of atmosphere. It would be nice to get one over on them and it is a big game, a top of the table clash.

"As we have seen, if you can win against Millwall and Peterborough and teams like, that then it takes a little bit of pressure off you when you are playing the teams around you."

O'Neil's most-recent appearance was an effective cameo off the bench in Saturday's 2-1 win over Millwall - a game he thoroughly enjoyed being involved in. The No32 also hailed the discipline and organisation Big Sam has instilled in a side that shipped goal after goal in being relegated from the Premier League last term.

"It was a really good win. When you go down to ten men so early you start to think it will be a difficult day, but all the lads were fantastic and they worked really hard.

"When you go down to ten men there is always a chance that the gaffer will have to change a couple of people as the legs begin to tire, but the subs were ready and they managed to come on and do a job, so it is a big win."

"The thing that has kept us going all season is the organisation and how solid we have been defensively. Barring the game in the week [at Ipswich Town], we haven't conceded many goals at all. If we go 1-0 up, I fancy us to go and win the game and keep a clean sheet and it didn't used to be like that, especially last season.

"We are really well-drilled and everybody knows what they are doing and we know that we don't have to score too many goals to win games which is a nice feeling."