Joey O'Brien could make first league start of season against Aston Villa
Joey O'Brien wants to put his latest injury nightmare behind him and play a role in West Ham's push for Europe.
The 29-year-old full-back has been sidelined for virtually the whole season with an ankle injury, but made his comeback as a first-half substitute for James Tomkins in Saturday's 0-0 FA Cup draw at Liverpool.
With Tomkins doubtful due to the head injury he suffered at Anfield, O'Brien could be handed his first Premier League start of the campaign when sixth-placed West Ham host struggling Aston Villa on Tuesday evening.
"It was great to be back on the pitch," he told West Ham TV. "It's been a long time since I played in the Europa League games in the summer, and going to a place like Anfield is what it's all about.
"Getting on earlier than I even dreamed of was nice. Over the years I've had some bad times, and people were saying 'you haven't played in a long time', but I had two-and-a-half years without playing before.
"People forget that, but I don't and I take inspiration from that time that I missed. Six months is nothing, really, but it is great to come back.
"I hurt my ankle in a practice game against Crystal Palace and thought nothing of it at the time.
"It was a lot worse than we thought and it lingered on, but it's over now and playing these games is what you do the rehab for."
O'Brien will face competition for the right-back slot from recent arrival Sam Byram, who was cup-tied at the weekend.
Byram is one of two January signings made by manager Slaven Bilic, who on Sunday clinched the signature of Nigerian forward Emmanuel Emenike on loan from Fenerbahce.
Emenike is likely to have to wait until West Ham's trip to Southampton on Saturday to make his debut as the club await international clearance.
Manager Remi Garde has admitted any late deals at Aston Villa will not be his first-choice signings.
The basement side are yet to complete any deals in the transfer window despite Garde's efforts to aid their survival fight.
Seydou Doumbia has chosen Newcastle despite Garde speaking at length to the striker, while moves for Loic Remy, Mathieu Debuchy and Sunderland new boy Wahbi Khazri hit the buffers.
A work permit appeal for goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic was rejected and Garde admitted he will not get the players at the top of his list - if any - ahead of Monday's 11pm deadline.
"That's right," he said.
"The situation of the team at the bottom of the table was not something easy to deal with for new players but it's not the only reason.
"It was also a financial problem but it's not my job to explain that again. Probably the club realise mistakes have been made in the past and they didn't want to do it again."
Garde takes Villa to West Ham on Tuesday with the club 10 points from safety in the Barclays Premier League.
He joined in November, replacing Tim Sherwood, after Villa made 13 new signings in a summer of change.
But despite their pre-season deals the side have struggled and Garde conceded he was unhappy with the lack of movement.
"I am disappointed because I know I represent this big club. I am not coming in front of the fans with good news. I always said I will not run away," he said.
"I feel the way I am working, and the way I see the club, I feel the support."
Strikers Rudy Gestede (hamstring) and Libor Kozak (ankle) are likely to miss out after being sidelined for Saturday's 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City while Ashley Westwood is a doubt with a calf problem.
Carlos Sanchez (hamstring) is out with Adama Traore (foot) and long-term injury victim Jordan Amavi (knee) but Alan Hutton may return after a hamstring injury.
Source: PAR
