Maynard hunting Hammers bow

Nicky Maynard is hoping to be offered the opportunity to make his West Ham debut in their top-of-the-table clash with Southampton on Tuesday.

Striker setting his sights on Saints showdown

Nicky Maynard is hoping to be offered the opportunity to make his West Ham debut in their top-of-the-table clash with Southampton on Tuesday. The highly-rated striker was snapped up by the Hammers on transfer deadline day, but he is yet to make his bow for the club. He watched on from the bench as Sam Allardyce's side secured derby success over arch-rivals Millwall, before seeing a meeting with Peterborough postponed due to a frozen pitch. Maynard is desperate to show what he can do and knows there would be no better time for him to make his mark than in a crucial contest with the Saints.

Chances

West Ham will go into that game top of the Championship table, but only a point clear of their midweek opponents. "Hopefully I'll be involved - the sooner the better for me because I can get to know the lads and get to play in front of the West Ham faithful," Maynard told the club's official matchday programme. "The manager said he's bringing me in to score goals and that I'll get the chances I need here. "That's all I want really - to get chances and I'm sure I'll take them."