'I just want to play'

Kieron Dyer is on a high again after playing his part in the win at Wolverhampton Wanderers but knows patience is the key.

His impressive contribution in the 2-0 opening-day success at Molineux on Saturday came on only his tenth league appearance for West Ham United. As such, Dyer is focused on adding to that tally of games above anything else and is already looking forward to the next match against Tottenham Hotspur this coming Sunday.

"Since the new manager has come in, he has been great for me," the 30-year-old said. "He has given me the confidence and told me is part of his plans and I just can't wait to get the season going."

Adding to his 33 international caps is certainly not on his mind, as he feels he has a job to do first with the club in terms of form and fitness. "I have had the question numerous times and I haven't even played 90 minutes in two years so to be even labelled with England is ludicrous.

"My job is to just get on the pitch with West Ham. They employ me and they haven't seen me on the pitch, the fans haven't seen me on the pitch so I just want to play for West Ham. England doesn't even come into it - I don't even think about England. I just want to play for West Ham."

Tellingly the 73 minutes he played at Wolves before Gianfranco Zola replaced him with Junior Stanislas was his longest run-out in a competitive match since a tackle by Bristol Rovers' Joe Jacobson on 28 August 2007 saw his leg broken in two places. His recovery was hampered by setbacks out of his control that delayed his return more than once.

"To think to not play 90 minutes in two years and it was a new move for me [from Newcastle United] and a new start and to have my leg broken was hard to take," he said. "Touch wood, I am due a bit of luck now. I have got a big season to look forward to."

"I haven't played 90 minutes in two years so it is just easing me back into it and trying to keep me fit. The plan was always to play 60 minutes and I thoroughly enjoyed it out there. To come off when it was 2-0 was perfect.

"We really enjoyed it apart from the first five minutes of the second half when Wolves gave it a good go and Greenie, all credit to him pulled off a couple of saves. We were trying a new formation with a diamond and it seemed to go really well. We are pleased with it."

In fact, Sunday was exactly two years since he joined the club from Newcastle United and the midfielder is feeling good about his prospects of showing West Ham United fans what he can do. The club's tough summer in Austria and China will be positive to his hopes of staying fit.

"We have done a really hard pre-season and I think you see the benefits of that. I think a lot of the Wolves players were cramping up and we looked fresh and raring to go and that is a good sign.

"It is the best I have felt for a while but I haven't played 90 minutes yet so that the manager and Clarkie are going to ease me in and play 60 minutes here, 65 minutes there and maybe do that for the first six or seven games of the season.

"They maybe even take me out of a game and give me a whole weekend off and ease me in back like that. Obviously I would be frustrated and I don't want to miss any football but it is the right way to go.

"You have seen with [Arsenal pair] Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky who now has pulled another muscle, especially when you have been out for so long, you get loads of muscle strains and stuff. You have to be sensible with injuries like this. Two years is a long time."