Jonathan Spector is "ready to go" should West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley call upon his services against Sunderland this weekend.
The versatile United States international, who is still only 21, has had to bide his time of late for first-team opportunities, not least because of George McCartney's consistent form at left-back. Spector is hopeful he could force his way into contention for Sunday's return to Premier League action against visitors managed by his former Manchester United colleague Roy Keane.
"I am ready to go if needed at left-back, right-back or centre-back," Spector said. "Wherever the opportunity is, I will be happy to play. Defensively the team has been fairly solid but I will just wait and be optimistic. I hope to be in contention for the Sunderland game. All I can do is keep fit and wait for the opportunity. I am more than comfortable anywhere along the back four."
With first-team chances limited of late, he did get a full run out in last week's reserve-team 1-0 victory against Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground. While the visitors were admittedly a youthful bunch, the one established face in the Tottenham side was tricky right-winger Wayne Routledge - and Spector was delighted with the way he acquitted himself against such a lively opponent.
He said: "He is a good talented player but I got some help from the midfield and we were pretty solid. It made it pretty easy to defend. For me personally obviously it was welcome - not getting enough football with the first team means it was important to get 90 minutes. In terms of the team performance we were compact and played well. We didn't give them many opportunities."