AFTER the pain of Play-off Final defeat last season, Christian
Dailly has been frustrated in his attempts to put things right this
term.
Injury problems have limited the Scottish international to just
four appearances, but all that could now change as Hammers return
to the Millennium Stadium on Monday to face Preston, with the
Premiership again in their sights.
Christian is quick to praise the efforts of his team-mates in
earning West Ham United a return to Cardiff, and now the
31-year-old defender is determined to help Alan Pardew's men
set the record straight.
"The lads done a fantastic job to get us here," he said.
"I'm just glad to be a part of it, fit again and ready to
play if I'm called on.
"I only got back in the squad for the last three games and
was really delighted to be involved at such a crucial time of the
season.
"But it's the rest of the boys who have done all the work
this season. They deserve the credit for getting us back to the
Millennium Stadium and now we've got a great chance of going
back to the Premiership.
"This game, what a price, but what a chance for everyone
involved. It's the lure of the Premier League and it's
everybody's desire to get back to the top-flight."
Christian has endured a torrid time this term, fighting his way
back to fitness after a knee operation in September and being
forced to sit and watch the action from the sidelines.
But Christian has refused to let the problems get him down and has
instead thrown himself head first into a training regime that would
make most of us wince simply thinking about it.
"I'm not one for moping around," he explained.
"I still came into training and even when there were
knock-backs I never missed a day and tried to do something every
day that kept me going."
"It was important for me to keep a smile on my face. I
didn't mind doing the training on my own, because it was like
every day was a day nearer to getting fit.
"Even the days when I couldn't do as much or had a
set-back, I made sure I did something. I had to get my head
together and if I had to train by myself sometimes, just to cope
with it."
Now Christian is on the verge of the most triumphant of comebacks,
a return to fitness just in time to help Hammers back to their
position among England's elite. But the Scottish international
knows that Preston will pose Alan Pardew's team the stiffest of
examinations in Cardiff.
"Preston have done really well," he agreed.
"They're an excellent side who are well organised and
extremely disciplined during games.
"They have quietly gone about their business, but they've
got some good players who on their day can really be a threat.
"The manager, Billy Davis, has got them in good shape since he
took over. He'll really have them wound up for the Final and
they'll be in our faces for sure.
"It's the way they play and it's worked for them this
season, but we know that's what we'll be dealing with and
it's important that we stay focused and play our own game.
"We believe that on our day we're a match for any team,
and that's what we've got to go out there and prove at the
Millennium Stadium.
"Our confidence is high, and rightly so because we've had
some fantastic results over the last few months.
"We'll go out there and give it everything. We want to win
but we also want to come off the field and be able to hold our
heads high, knowing that we've got nothing else to give.
"There desire amongst the squad to get this Club back to the
Premiership is incredible and hopefully that will show in our
performance on Monday."