Collison keen to play his part

Jack Collison is desperate to play his part in helping West Ham stay up after revealing he is close to making a return to action after almost a year out with a serious knee injury. Collison, 22, had forced himself into Gianfranco Zola's team last season until he suffered cartilage damage in Wales' 1-0 defeat to Sweden in Cardiff in March. Without him, the Hammers managed to stay up under Zola but his successor, Avram Grant, has found life hard at Upton Park and the club have spent much of the current campaign in the relegation zone. The midfielder has now set his sights on a return to action in March - a month which he knows will be crucial in West Ham's bid to avoid a potentially crippling relegation to the npower Championship. "I'm getting much closer. I should be back in with the team over the next few weeks and picking up training," said Collison. "It's just a matter of trying to find my feet and getting a few games under my belt. "Fingers crossed, I'll be back playing before too long and doing my bit to help us out of the situation we're in. I want to do my bit this season if and when I can."

Source: PA