SINCE arriving at Upton Park in October 2003, Hayden Mullins has
been asked to fill a variety of positions.
From left-back to right midfield, the 25-year-old former Crystal
Palace player has fitted in wherever his manager has asked.
The majority of Hayden's 61 appearances for the Hammers have
come as a full-back, particularly this season. However, the former
England Under-21 player returned to the centre of midfield for the
1-1 draw with Sheffield United at the weekend and admitted that he
was pleased to be back in his familiar midfield berth.
"The manager pushed me into the midfield against Sheffield
United I enjoyed playing in there," he said. "It
doesn't really bother me where I play, just so long as I'm
in the team. I've played in a few different positions for the
Club and am happy to do a job wherever I'm asked to.
"But midfield is a position I've got quite familiar with
during my career and I do like playing there. It gives me a bit of
licence to get forward and I enjoy the freedom of the role.
"I think I did pretty well against Sheffield United, and
hopefully I did enough to keep my place there for the next game.
I'd like to be able to establish myself in a particular
position. I don't mind if that's in midfield or at the
back, but it would be good to get a solid run of games."
Like most of Alan Pardew's squad, Hayden was disappointed that
the Hammers couldn't finish their FA Cup Fourth Round clash
against Sheffield United in one sitting, with a replay now needed
at Bramall Lane. But the Berkshire born player is confident the
Hammers can progress, especially with a Fifth Round draw at Arsenal
laying in wait.
"It was a scrappy game against Sheffield United,"
admitted Hayden. "We did well in the first-half, played some
really good stuff and Marlon scored a great goal to give us the
lead.
"We looked like the only team in it at half-time and really
were in a great position to win the tie.
"But Sheffield United make it very difficult. They make it
ugly, sitting deep, breaking up play and defending solidly.
That's what they did in the second-half. Unfortunately, we got
sucked in and gave away a poor goal.
"We're confident that we can get a result up there in the
replay, though. We've won at Bramall Lane already this season
and the prospect of facing Arsenal at Highbury in the next round is
massive motivation for us."
Despite his desires on a Fifth Round clash with the reigning
Premiership champions, Hayden insists that the League is a far more
important concern for Alan Pardew's squad. And, with Cardiff
visiting Upton Park on Sunday, he admits a win is vital for the
Hammers promotion chances.
"We've had a couple of bad results in the League and we
need to put that right on Sunday," said Hayden.
"It'll be a tough game. Cardiff come to play football and
they'll fight for everything.
"But we owe them one after the defeat at Ninian Park and the
lads are really up for the game this weekend.
"Our aim this season was to get West Ham United back to the
Premiership, and that hasn't changed. Everyone is still focused
on achieving promotion and there is still a lot of belief around
the squad that we can achieve it.
"Now we need to turn that belief into results. After the games
on Saturday we'll know exactly what we need to do against
Cardiff and getting a win really is important to get us moving in
the right direction again."
Mullins In The Middle
1st February 2005