Dean Ashton is ready and willing to take on Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
The striker said: "Everything has gone really well. I have trained for a week and a half. If I get through the rest of the week well, I will be available for selection on Sunday." Alongside Scott Parker, he came through a practice match at Chadwell Heath on Wednesday, scoring with a header in a 5-0 victory against Southampton.
Ashton is particularly eager to return to first-team action this weekend, having had to watch from the sidelines last season when the club lost 4-3 to Tottenham in dramatic circumstances - although it was to prove the turning point in the survival fight.
"It was hard to take last season because I thought we played so well and you saw the scenes at the end of the game - the players were devastated," he said. "This year we really want to win and I want to play a part in it as well." Ashton turns 24 on Saturday and a run-out in a derby victory after more than six weeks on the sidelines would be the perfect birthday present.
Ashton spoke to WHUTV while at a special open day for the Kickz project, held at the West Ham United in the Community training ground in Beckton. Backed by the Football Foundation and the Met Police Authority, Kickz provides three sessions a week - allowing the club's community staff to reach in excess of 350 youngsters every week. Ashton saw at first hand some of the good work being done - not least a 'show racism the red card' workshop with former club favourite Leroy Rosenior and also watched some special coaching sessions.