Collins Hopes For Cup Chance

DEFENDER James Collins is hoping to get a chance to prove himself at first-team level with the Hammers in tonight's Carling Cup Second Round clash against Sheffield Wednesday.

The Welsh international has not played a competitive game for West Ham United at senior level since making the switch from Cardiff City in the summer.

Injury hampered his progress at the start of the season, but now the 22-year-old is hoping for a chance to shine at Hillsborough.

"Obviously Gabs (Danny Gabbidon) and Anton (Ferdinand) have doing fantastically well so it's been tough for me to get in," he explained. "The team have been playing great and the start to the season has been really positive.

"That's meant my chance hasn't come yet, but this is a squad game, you need a big squad in the Premiership and we all feel very much a part of the success that the team has been having recently.

"I want to play though and hopefully I can get a chance tonight to show the manager what I can do.

"The injury was a bit of a set-back, but since getting fit I've played for Wales and also in the Reserves, so I feel ready and I'm looking forward to hopefully getting a chance in the first-team."

Competition for places at Upton Park is fierce and it highlights the strength in depth of Alan Pardew's squad that a player with seven senior caps at international level is currently striving to force his way into the startling line-up.

But Collins knows his chance will come, and until then he is determined to work hard at his game and try and improve himself as a player.

"The Premiership is a massive step up," he admitted, "but I want to test myself against the best players and the Premier League is the place to do that.

"When I came here I knew there'd be a lot of competition with three other very good central defenders in Gabs, Anton and Elliott Ward.

"But that is fantastic for the Club, to have four young centre-backs all fighting it out for places in the first-team.

"I think the benefit is showing in the way the two lads are playing at the moment. Both Anton and Gabs have looked really sharp and now it's up to me to prove that I'm worth a chance.

"To do that I just need to keep working hard and when my chances come along hopefully take them.

"If I play in the Cup that's what I aim to do."