Matthew Etherington has been voted of the player of the month for September by users of whufc.com.
The winger has been in inspired form recently and scored crucial goals against Newcastle United and Fulham in September. The No11's fine run also set up Carlton Cole's opener against the side from west London. Etherington took 46 per cent of the vote, with the impressive Cole the closest behind with 18 per cent.
West Ham United's longest serving player spoke to the matchday programme for Sunday's game against Bolton Wanderers and admitted that he is enjoying life at the Boleyn Ground as much as ever. "There has always been a good atmosphere here. We have a good bunch of lads who all get on and we all want the same things this year and there is a great sense of what we can achieve this year if everyone can stay fit.
"I honestly believe that we can be a top-eight side this season, that's certainly our aim. There are a lot of goals I want to achieve here at West Ham and if we maintain the great start we have had, there's no reason why we can't go on and up from here," he said.
Gianfranco Zola has deployed Etherington in a more advanced role since his arrival as part of a new formation and the former Hammer of the Year says he has been enjoying it. "The new manager has come in and has been brilliant for me. He and Steve Clarke have been great. They are bringing all sorts of things to my game - individual tips to help me and the other lads, and it all goes to improving what you do. You enjoy coming to training every morning which is a good thing.
"The manager is playing me in a role just behind the front two - which gives me the chance to go either side. This has given me a lot more chances to score goals, which is great," he added.
Zola seems equally pleased with Etherington's new role. Zola said: "The first day we played some possession ball and I saw him and asked him to play more in the middle and he was actually one of the best. It is something that he knows how to do and he has always known how to do that. Maybe in the past a manager has asked him to do something different but he can do that job and I can assure he will get much better."