Bellion's Comeback Continues

DAVID Bellion will continue his comeback from a broken leg by making his first start in the claret and blue this evening as the Reserves take on Leicester City.

The 22-year-old French star is on a season long loan from Manchester United and made a scoring debut from the substitutes bench in the 4-2 Carling Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Now he is determined to stake his claim for a permanent first-team spot.

"The Reserve game is a good chance for me to get another game in and improve my fitness," explained David. "I have done lots of work with the physios since joining the Club, but now I need matches to build up my sharpness.

"I was delighted with my debut against Sheffield Wednesday. Scoring was very good for my confidence and I hope I can continue to play well.

"My aim is just to do my best wherever I play. Hopefully I can put in some good performances for the Reserves and that will earn me another chance in the first-team.

"At the moment the team are playing very well so it's difficult to break in. So for me I have to keep doing my best in training and making sure that I am building my fitness.

"Hopefully, I can push onto the first-team bench soon, but to do that I must first play well in the Reserves."

Having been out of football since breaking his leg playing for Manchester United against Charlton Reserves, the former France Under-21 international is keen to just regain the feeling of playing competitive football again.

"I have been out since May and it's important that I get used to playing competitively again," he said. "Training is very good to improve your fitness, but it is difficult to replace the feeling of playing in matches and it is that feeling I need to get back.

"That's why I was so pleased to make my debut against Sheffield Wednesday, because it gave me the feel of playing against a competitive team. To score was even better.

"I came back about two or three weeks earlier than expected, which is encouraging, but I was very determined to get back quickly and show West Ham United what I can do."