Dyer determined to prove worth

Injury-plagued midfielder keen to get career back on track

Last updated: 7th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Dyer determined to prove worth

Dyer: Determined to prove worth

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West Ham midfielder Kieron Dyer is determined to prove his worth after criticism of his injury-plagued career at Upton Park.

The former England midfielder has been restricted to just seven starts in two-and-a-half years with the Hammers, having suffered a broken leg shortly after his £6million move from Newcastle and constant hamstring problems.

Such a record has led the 31-year-old to be among those singled out by the club's finance director Nick Igoe as an example of the 'ill-judged' investments which landed the Hammers in financial trouble.

And West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan also suggested last month that Dyer should consider retiring as part of a series of cost-cutting measures being undertaken at Upton Park under the new regime.

But Dyer, who came on as a substitute in the 2-1 home defeat to Bolton on Saturday, says he is determined to prove his worth.

He said: "If you buy a football club and you are the owners, you say what you want. They are entitled to their opinions.

Forgotten

"Everyone has forgotten that I probably had a worse leg break than Aaron Ramsey and have had four operations to try to get it right.

"I have put in everything I can to get fit for this club but it is not enough for some people.

"All I can do is get my head down. I have the backing of the manager and hopefully I can get there."

Dyer appeared to also have the backing of West Ham's fans too, judging by their reaction when he came on against the Trotters.

"That is good to hear," he said. "Hopefully I can change some other people's minds."

Dyer believed Bolton were good value for their win - their sixth successive victory against the Hammers.

Disappointing day

He added: "We were poor today and deserved to lose. Even though I came on for 45 minutes it was a very disappointing day.

"We usually start like a house on fire, get out of the traps and get in people's faces.

"All credit to Bolton, we expected them to sit off and let us have possession of the ball and hit us on the break but they came straight for us.

"They were excellent today."

West Ham now face back-to-back away trips to Chelsea and Arsenal but Dyer believes the Hammers' Premier League survival will depend on how they perform in other games.

He said: "I still don't think that the next two games have a bearing on whether we stay in the league or not.

"I still believe that it is our home games and possibly Fulham away. If we do well there we will stay in this league."

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