Dyer eyes up festive return

Hammers midfielder set to play in friendly this week

Last updated: 1st December 2008

Kieron Dyer West Ham

Dyer: Ready to return

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Kieron Dyer is hoping to make his first-team comeback for West Ham United over Christmas.

The midfielder has been sidelined since August 2007 after breaking his leg against Bristol Rovers in the Carling Cup on just his third appearance for the Hammers.

The £6million signing from Newcastle United was aiming to return at the start of this season, only to suffer a stress fracture which delayed his comeback.

However, Dyer is due play in a behind-closed-doors friendly later this week and the 29-year-old is eager to be playing again.

Feeling sharper

"It will be great to get that first game under my belt," said Dyer. "I'm not going to say I'm going to be thrown straight back into the first team.

"Ideally I will have three or four preparation games and then be ready, perhaps for the Christmas period.

"Every day I feel sharper and I do believe now I need to make up for lost time.

"My 30th birthday is coming up later this month and some players start to look toward the end of their careers when they reach that milestone.

"With the amount of football I've missed though, I feel I have a good five years still left in me."

Former manager Alan Curbishley brought Dyer to Upton Park, but he left a year later and was replaced by Gianfranco Zola.

Dyer, who has won 33 England caps, added: "Gianfranco Zola has been good to me. On his first day he called me into his office and said he remembered playing against me."