Pablo Barrera is hoping he gets an FA Cup call tonight - having played a pivotal role in the previous two rounds against Barnsley and Nottingham Forest.
The Mexico winger has had to be content with a watching brief in the Barclays Premier League of late but has kept going, and turned in an encouraging display for the reserves at Chelsea last Wednesday that included an assist for Benni McCarthy. The FA Cup focus returns this evening and he is keen to figure against Burnley.
"I have to wait to have my chance to play," Barrera told West Ham TV. "Confidence is important and it was good to play last week. Hopefully I can keep that form going. I expect to play like that again or even do better."
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Still only 23, Barrera has enjoyed his first campaign in London and has faith that the Hammers will retain their Barclays Premier League status. "We have a strong squad, the team is getting better and we just need to be 100 per cent focused during 90 minutes to take three points and get off the bottom."We have been having some problems to control the match when we are ahead, so I think is just a matter of concentrating during those moments to turn draws into victories.
Barrera, who shot to global attention with his form at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, admitted he has felt frustrated in not being able to fully show his ability.
"Of course I feel sad if I don't play, but I just have in mind that I have to keep working harder if I want to play more and be a first choice. Every player wants to play. I won't give up and I know that the right way to approach it is to work hard and wait for an opportunity to show my best."
What would help would be a first goal in claret and blue, and Barrera admitted he is desperate to get off the mark - although he has hit the net at the Boleyn with the decisive penalty in the pre-season SBOBET Cup success against RC Deportivo La Coruna. "Maybe a goal would be important for me to get more confidence, I have been close in every match, but it just hasn't happened.
"To score a goal is something beautiful and always gives you an extra motivation to play with more self-confidence. I believe in myself and I am sure that I will be better in the matches to come."