Frederic Piquionne is hoping to return to first-team training this week before Saturday's visit of Manchester United after being forced to sit out since the FA Cup defeat by Stoke City.
The French striker was hurt in a collision with Robert Huth as he scored the Hammers' only goal in that 3-1 defeat back on 13 March. Piquionne suffered a painful foot injury that required him to rest it completely, meaning he finished last week focusing his efforts on fitness and bike work in the Chadwell Heath gym.
"I am recovering well," Piquionne told West Ham TV. "The physio and I are hoping this week I can train with the first team. My right toes were injured, it was really painful.
"It was a shame because I started the Stoke game slowly but I was able to score. I needed to come off and it was a shame for the rest of the game. I think I could have scored again and we might have won the game."
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Although Piquionne had to sit out the trip to Tottenham Hotspur a week ago, he has been helped by the enforced international break. "It has been good for me. I have two weeks to come back. I have extra time to prepare for the big game against Man U and I hope I can be back."He has nine goals from 35 appearances so far for the Hammers but believed he could yet add more to that tally in the hope of helping the team's survival fight. "It is time to take points now because there are just eight games until the end of the season. We need to stay in the Premier League.
"Confidence is high. In the Premier League we have had some good results against Stoke and Liverpool at home and we need to keep this confidence against Man U. Maybe we can win the game.
"Home matches are very important. We have Man U, Aston Villa and Blackburn at home and we need to take nine points from these matches."
As ever, the popular Piquionne is aware that the team game at West Ham extends beyond the pitch and into all four corners of the Boleyn Ground.
"The supporters are very good and we need them for the rest of the season. I hope we stay in the Premier League and the team will do the maximum for that. For that I need to stay cool to help my team and I need to train hard to get back into the team."