Ricardo Vaz Te could be asked to solve West Ham's striker crisis - barely a month after handing in a transfer request.
The Portuguese forward looked set to leave Upton Park on deadline day but a move failed to materialise, leaving him in limbo and boss Sam Allardyce with a player he would have been happy to get rid of.
But Allardyce handed Vaz Te a rare start in the Capital One Cup against Cardiff on Monday night and he responded with an all-action display culminating in the winning goal as the Hammers triumphed 3-2.
And with attackers Andy Carroll, Joe Cole and Stewart Downing still injured, new signing Mladen Petric short of match fitness and Modibo Maiga struggling for form, Vaz Te could get the nod at Hull on Saturday.
Assistant manager Neil McDonald said: "He keeps on telling everyone that he creates chances and scores and that's what the manager wants - people to put the ball in the back of the net.
"That's a knock on the door for the manager, he's available on Saturday against Hull and gives the manager a nice little problem.
"You have to forget what happened in the past, maybe it was bad advice, but he's a genuine lad who just wants to play.
"He wanted to go and play somewhere but he got a game here and scored the winner which is great."
The Hammers were 2-0 up after seven minutes through Ravel Morrison - who scored after just 20 seconds - and Matt Jarvis.
But Cardiff staged an unlikely comeback thanks to a fine curler from Craig Noone just before half-time, and a first Cardiff strike for recent signing Peter Odemwingie.
Source: PA
