AFTER recovering from surgery to correct a recurring injury, French
striker Jeremie Aliadiere is aiming to be back on track and make
himself available for selection against Manchester City on
Sunday.
The international break has come as a welcome chance for the 22-year-old Arsenal loanee to build his fitness after suffering a recurrance of the problem just before the Hammers were due to play Sheffield Wednesday in the Carling Cup.
Since his arrival in late August, Jeremie has made three substitute appearances for the first-team and three starts in the Reserves, scoring once, but is now looking forward to getting back into Alan Pardew's plans.
Explaining why he had to have surgery, Jeremie said: "It was an operation on my hernia. I had a problem with it two years ago. But this time what happened was that a stitch inside me snapped and this caused me to have problems again, so I had to have an operation to correct it and put it right.
"It's been a couple of weeks now and although after the operation, it feels tight and you find it hard to walk at first, I'm happy to say I'm feeling fine now and everything feels okay."
After resting up Jeremie has back out on the Chadwell Heath training pitch during the international break.
Smiling, he said: "I'm very happy because I've been able to get out there again and do some jogging, which was good. It all seems fine and now I'm looking to step up the fitness and go from there.
"It's frustrating when you get an injury and you have to wait before you even do things like running, but now that I can, I know that it is getting better."
Having to miss out on the last three games, Jeremie is hoping to be fit to travel as part of Alan Pardew's squad for the visit to Manchester City next Sunday and then face Middlesborough at home the following week.
He said: "I'm confident that I can be available for those games, I should be okay. I'm hoping to be back and make myself available for the squad. I can't wait to get back and hopefully try and force my way into the team.
"We've been doing very well and there's no reason why we can't continue to do that, because the team is very determined and we have good players here. We have had a very good start to the season and showed what the team is capable of.
"As for myself, although I have been injured, I have settled in well here and am happy to be part of the Club.
"Everyone has been good to me and helped me to become part of the team here very quickly. Now I hope to get back out there and help West Ham United to some more good results in the Premiership."