Talking of whether he will carry on playing next season, he admits:
"I don't know at the moment but I think another year in the Premiership would probably be pushing it too far; I don't think I will be in the Premiership next season with any club.
"If I was to go to a club in the first division it would have to be one with ambition - but at the moment it is more likely I will retire.
"I don't want to think about that, though, until West Ham are safe."
All of which makes Nigel determined to help the Hammers to a good run this season after years of knockout disappointments, and he says:
"I wouldn't call the FA Cup a distraction - it is a fantastic competition, and you are not that far from a place in the final.
"You have still got to get through each round but if we get a win on Saturday hopefully it can spark the league form - and if we got that home win at last it would mean that we are through to the next round.
"It still holds all its values to me - it is a fantastic competition to play in."
Nigel, in common with the other players, had a breather on Wednesday when the Charlton game was postponed, and he says:
"I was disappointed it was called off in the last hour before kick off, but maybe when we come to play them we will have all our players back."
Nigel had expected to be rested against Blackburn, but played in that game on top of the Bolton and Fulham matches, and he adds:
"Obviously I didn't know if I was going to play all the games over Christmas so at this stage of my career it is an added bonus."
Of that festive period, he says:
"It is frustrating because we could probably have won at Blackburn and got a few more points in other games as well - but we have to take what comes at the moment.
"We know we are bottom of the league, but we have not been cut adrift, and we are very positive we can get out of trouble.
"The performances have been a lot better than the points we have picked up, but we have got the odd point here and there while other teams above us have been losing.
"It is going to be a close thing but I am confident when we get everyone fit, and with talk of other players coming in, we can turn it around to make sure we don't get relegated."