Kouyate's aiming high

Cheikhou Kouyate says West Ham United will remain grounded despite their fine run of recent form.

A perfect October saw manager Sam Allardyce and striker Diafra Sakho pick up the Barclays Premier League Manager and Player of the Month awards respectively.

Kouyate feels that is just reward for a fantastic month but believes there is more to come from the team still.

He said: "Beating top teams is great for our confidence but we also need to keep our feet on the ground. As a team we haven't achieved anything yet and there's still a long way to go.

"All we want to do is reach our aims for the season and to do that we have to keep working hard and produce on the pitch.

"Our aim is to do as the manager said and improve on last season. We want to finish as high as possible in the top half, and play good football which the fans enjoy."

Kouyate has taken to English football like a duck to water and he is keen to build on his fine start.

He added: "I'm very happy here and my first few months have been great. I was well welcomed by everyone at the Club and it has been a great start.

"Everyone here has really helped the new players settle in and we've done our best not to disappoint. We've done well for ourselves and for the team and we want it to continue.

"Anderlecht is a big club in Belgium with fantastic supporters. Mo Diame told me before I came here that the fans are amazing but I couldn't have expected them to be how they are.

"The atmosphere at the Boleyn Ground is wonderful and I get goosebumps when I'm out on the pitch. It gives everyone here even more enthusiasm and desire to perform in front of the supporters."