Peter Kurucz can see the light at the end of the tunnel as he battles hard to return after a serious knee problem.
The Hammers shot-stopper is the last long-term casualty at Chadwell Heath, with Jack Collison nearing a playing return from his own serious ligament injury. Kurucz, 22, was hurt just before the start of the season on 7 August and has admitted he will not play at all this campaign, even if he is closing on a training comeback.
"I'm doing some stuff outside now, doing some basic goalkeeping, kicking and some running," he told West Ham TV. "I think I still need four weeks to be fit and get back to training with the first team. It has been almost six months now, so hopefully in about a month I'll be ready to play."
The Hungarian Under-21 international admitted he has found it tough at times to cope with the long hours in rehab work, but has never given up. "The first few months were very hard, because I couldn't do anything outside.
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"I was just working hard in the gym to build up the muscle. Then in the last two or three months it has got a little bit better since I started to do some work outside, so it was much better for me. In the next few weeks I'm going to start training with [goalkeeping coach] David Coles so I'm looking forward it."Kurucz has received plenty of encouragement from team-mates Robert Green, Marek Stech and Ruud Boffin - with the goalkeepers' union in full effect. "Everyone has been looking after me every time, asking me how I am doing and what I have been doing."
The visit of Manchester United on Saturday week reminds of Kurucz' only first-team experience to date - a 17-minute substitute appearance against the Red Devils on 5 December 2009 when he actually kept out Sir Alex Ferguson's men in what was ultimately a 4-0 loss. Kurucz is hoping to be back in contention for a second senior appearance in 2011/12.
"The plan is not to play this season, so then I can be 100 per cent for the next season. Everyday I'm at the training ground, so I'm working hard as if I was with the first team but doing different stuff. We have a very good physio, Tom Smith and I really appreciate his help."