Adam Still Keen

Adam Newton insists that he still harbours a hope to make the grade at West Ham.

Adam, currently on loan at Leyton Orient, knows that his days at Upton Park could be numbered, as his contract runs out this summer.

But he is also well aware that the club are monitoring closely all his games at Brisbane Road before a decision is made on whether to offer him a new deal.

"Paul Goddard told me just before I went down there that they will be sending people to watch me week in, week out to see how I get on in league football, so I will just have to wait and see when the month is up," says Adam.

"I've played four games in just over a week now and it is going pretty well. On a personal note it is an opportunity for me to play proper league football that Leyton Orient have given me.

"Being a West Ham supporter it was always going to be my dream to try and make it at West Ham, but if it is not to be, football is one of those things where you have to move on to get a fresh start.

"Steven Clark has moved on to Southend and Anwar Uddin is settled at Sheffield Wednesday now, so it is not the end of everything if I have to leave West Ham - but the main ambition is to stay.

"I have still got an option to stay at West Ham or I have still got an option to move elsewhere but at the moment I am just happy to be playing league football and we will see what happens at the end of the month.

"The loan is until the 8th April, I think, and if there are a few more games I'd like to stay but, if not, I'd like to return to West Ham."

There were requests - turned down - to take Adam on loan earlier in the season, but he explains: "At the time we had a few injuries and I think the manager thought it wasn't the best for me or in the club's best interests to let me go at that time but now the opportunity has come up with a lot of players getting back to fitness."

He admits he has found it difficult to progress this year, explaining: "Because I have been in the squads and in and around the first team on previous occasions it is a bit frustrating not feeling part of it any more, but the new manager has come in and had a good look at me, and maybe feels I am not in his plans at the minute.

"That is what happens in football generally, so I have to have to learn to get on with it and deal with it, and try the best I can."

Adam has helped the Os to a mini-revival since joining - and he admits he finds the third division an interesting experience.

"The first game was a bit of an eye opener and I got a few kicks and whacks, the next game I settled in, and I've had the two since," he says.

Adam is not the only connection with West Ham at Brisbane Road. Former Welsh under-21 defender Dave Partridge is there on loan from Dundee United. Scott Canham, once released by the Hammers, is a regular in their side, and they are, of course, managed by Paul Brush, who took over this season from another former West Ham player, Tommy Taylor.