Suker Sorry

Davor Suker says he is sorry things have not worked out for West Ham.

He has scored 3 goals in 8 starts for the Hammers and reacquainted himself with the back of the net in front of a handful of hardy souls at Upton Park on tuesday night when he scored a penalty.

But the scene was a long way from the glory years which have seen him grab 42 goals in 60 games for Croatia in an illustrious career that has taken him across europe.Davor knows he has not met expectations this season since signing on a free transfer from Arsenal last summer and says:

"I want to say sorry to the fans and to everyone - this is part of life of one football player, and I'm so sorry.

"I'm fighting to come back but I'm always realistic and nobody wants more than me to play football for West Ham.

"But if the muscles don't respond, you can't put the performance in."I know everyone expected 20 goals from me but if you have three months' bad luck you can't perform very well.

"It's injury time for the first time in my life and nobody is happy: nobody is happy at West Ham, the fans are not happy, Davor Suker is not happy.

"Nobody likes being injured; I started the season with goals, but, to tell the truth I'm not 23, I'm 33."Harry has already stated that he will not be retaining Davor's services next season but the hitman stresses there are no hard feelings.

"It's a lovely club, a family club," he says with a smile.

"I have a very good relationship with everyone, and it's been bad luck."In ten years outside of my country I have never been injured and now I understand what it is like for the many many players that do get injuries.

"I'm not a polemic man and I don't want to fight with anybody; I have spoken to the gaffer and we have a good relationship.

"This is reality: for me, it is a bad season, and it's for us to know what will happen."

Although he had been quoted as saying he has had offers from many countries for next season, and that he would haul his body through one more campaign, he says now:

"I'm realistic, I have a couple of offers but I'm only thinking about West Ham for these couple of months.

"But I'm not thinking about next season; I'm free, and I will see what happens with my groin.

"First of all you need to stay very fit to play football - that is the first point."Later, we will see what happens.

"I came back but the muscles and the groin and the hip did not respond - it's unlucky for me.

"But that is the life of one footballer, everything is not always good."It's been too much, and it's very difficult with injury time.

"I have a contract until the end of the season and we know what we will do for the next couple of months."We lost too many games and that is disappointing as nobody likes losing; we need to perform much better."

When asked about the suggestion that he may have to do military service in Croatia, he simply puts his hand to his lips, and walks away...