Scott Determined

Scott Minto says he will do everything he can to force his way into regular first team contention this season.

The Hammers left-back is hoping to step up his pre-season campaign at Norwich City this evening in order to build towards that aim, and he explains: "I have had a couple of 15 and 20 minute run outs, but it is the stage where you want to be playing full games and that is what I need.

"I feel good but it is just a case of getting games in now. If you don't, you lose fitness and although I feel as fit as anyone at the club, now is the stage where you start to get match fitness, and I need that."

With Nigel Winterburn still at the club, competition on the left is fierce, and Scott admits: "Nigel is a great pro with a good left foot, and there is me. All I can do is just work hard and try my best to persuade Glenn to put me in a few more times than he did last season.

"I wasn't happy about how last season went, and I felt that, on the few times I did play, I did well and I was disappointed to get dropped."

But Scott insists there are no problems with the manager, and explains: "I think Glenn would be disappointed if I wasn't disappointed when not picked, so hopefully this season I will get a few more games - we will see how it pans out.

"I want to be playing as many first team games as possible for West Ham. When I first came to the club I was doing that, and I want to get back to that situation.

"The aim overall is to improve on last season but it is going to be very hard when you think that there are five teams who have practically nailed down those top five positions.

"But then Newcastle came in and had a great season, as we did after people were tipping us to go down.

"We have proved them wrong, and we hope to do so again - and get into Europe."