Behrami determined

Valon Behrami has admitted to having mixed feelings about jetting off to represent Switzerland for the first time in a year this weekend.

While the 24-year-old was happy to be included in Ottmar Hitzfeld's squad for Saturday's international friendly with Norway in Geneva, he is determined to remain focused on his job here at West Ham United.

The popular midfielder was as disappointed as anybody following Sunday's Barclays Premier League loss to Everton, and has vowed to do everything in his power to help the Hammers to climb the table as soon as possible.

Despite the nature of last weekend's defeat, Behrami said morale in the dressing room was still high, with everyone determined to put things right, starting at Hull City on Saturday 21 November.

"We've now got two weeks without a game and that means we're just thinking about it all the time," he said. "It is frustrating and it's not a good moment for us but at least the team is still alive."

"I'm going to play for Switzerland for the first time in a while and for me it's not really the best time to go."

As well as his unstinting commitment to the club's cause, Behrami is also eager to work on his match-fitness, having only recently returned to action following six months out with a serious knee injury.

To the untrained eye, the energetic midfielder is already back to his best, but Behrami himself insists he can improve his fitness still further over the coming fortnight.

"I still need to work on my problem. I am getting better every game but I am not 100 per cent. I need to strengthen my injured leg and that will come with games. I need to work.

"It's a difficult moment and I think about these things. I really like to give all I have to West Ham to be honest. We need that and we need to do better than this.

"I want to stay here and like I said before, everyday I want to stay here. I enjoy everything at this club and team and I want to stay here 100 per cent."