Jack Collison made his long-awaited return to international duty in helping Wales to beat Northern Ireland in Dublin on Friday night.
The Hammers No10 played 62 minutes after starting alongside club-mate Danny Gabbidon in Dublin's virtually empty Aviva Stadium. Collison grew in stature as the game wore on and was particularly lively in linking up with former Hammers forward Craig Bellamy.
Wales won with goals from Aaron Ramsey and Robert Earnshaw, but needed Gabbidon to be alert on a couple of occasions. The long-serving centre-back was winning his first cap for the Principality since November 2009, having agreed to come out of international retirement for new manager Gary Speed.
Collison finished the season strongly for club and country after 14 months out with a serious knee injury. He will return for duty with the rest of the Hammers squad in early July raring to go for the new campaign.