Freddie Sears is biding his time for a recall but is ready and willing should that come in Monday night's FA Cup visit of Burnley.
The homegrown Hammer showed his form with an assist and goal in the midweek reserves match at Chelsea, but it was a match in which Pablo Barrera and Zavon Hines also sparkled. That duo are also keen to catch the manager's eye, and Sears knows that a strong squad means you must take your chance when it comes.
"It makes you work even harder when you look at the squad and you see top-quality players everywhere - even on the bench," Sears told West Ham TV. "You have to work hard every day in training and in reserve games just to get yourself on the bench, let alone on the pitch.
"It's good to play the reserve games because sometimes when you're not in the first team you need a run out and to come down and have a game. That's no disrespect to the reserves because it is a good standard of football."
SEE MORE FROM SEARS NOW ON WEST HAM TV
The 21-year-old has impressed since his return from a loan at Scunthorpe United, and notably scored in the New Year's Day home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He would love to play a part in keeping the team up this season but also build on his FA Cup run, having played in the last round against Nottingham Forest."It's up to the manager. Obviously I'm desperate to get back in there. I want to play every game and I want to help West Ham in any way I can. At the moment, I've got to be patient and wait for my chance and when it comes, I need to take it and get another run in the team.
"It would be nice. I obviously played in the last FA Cup game and I thought I did all right. Let's hope I can get another run out on Monday night and we'll see what happens. If I get in the team, I get in the team and if I get on the bench, I'll be ready to come on and do my bit.
"Burnley are a good side. They've had a new manager come in in Eddie Howe and he looks as if he knows what he is doing. He's gone in there and they've started picking up points.
"Every team in the Championship can cause you problems on their day as we've seen with Barnsley and Forest and it's going to be a good game."