Glenn Roeder says that Omer Riza may have a future at the club if
he continues his early season progress at Upton Park.
Although the diminutive striker is effectively the sixth choice forward, Glenn says he has been impressed by his recent form.
He scored the goal against Walton and Hersham on Thursday in a 1-1 draw, two days after earning a penalty in the first reserve game of the season against Wimbledon.
He has been unable to break into the first team since his £25,000 arrival from Arsenal in 1999 but Glenn says:
"Omer Riza has done very well and I've been pleased with him.
"I noticed a difference in him last year when he came back on loan from Cambridge.
"He seems to have matured a lot; he has settled down this season and is working very hard in training.
"He is getting the benefit of that in games, where he is looking very lively."
He was recently recalled from a spell with St. Mirren and Glenn explains:
"We have had the opportunity to let him go to a couple of clubs on loan that want to sign him on a free.
"But the way he has played in preseason we couldn't allow that to happen, and we'd be looking for a fee if he was to go.
"Some boys are late developers and he is doing all he can to push himself into the squad."
Although the diminutive striker is effectively the sixth choice forward, Glenn says he has been impressed by his recent form.
He scored the goal against Walton and Hersham on Thursday in a 1-1 draw, two days after earning a penalty in the first reserve game of the season against Wimbledon.
He has been unable to break into the first team since his £25,000 arrival from Arsenal in 1999 but Glenn says:
"Omer Riza has done very well and I've been pleased with him.
"I noticed a difference in him last year when he came back on loan from Cambridge.
"He seems to have matured a lot; he has settled down this season and is working very hard in training.
"He is getting the benefit of that in games, where he is looking very lively."
He was recently recalled from a spell with St. Mirren and Glenn explains:
"We have had the opportunity to let him go to a couple of clubs on loan that want to sign him on a free.
"But the way he has played in preseason we couldn't allow that to happen, and we'd be looking for a fee if he was to go.
"Some boys are late developers and he is doing all he can to push himself into the squad."