Nouble keen to impress boss Avram Grant

WEST HAM striker Frank Nouble wants to stay and fight for a place in the first team rather then go on loan.

The 19-year-old partnered Victor Obinna up front in the 2-0 FA Cup Third Round victory over Barnsley at the weekend and is hopeful his performance will lead to more opportunities in league games.

“Yes of course (I want to stay at West Ham), but it is up to the club as well. I have to keep fighting for the chance to play,” he said.

“I’m a better player now than I was last season and a big reason for that is the loan moves. Swansea was good, but I’d rather stay at the club where I am now. Work hard and get my chance here.

“I think I played well. Obviously I’ve been itching to play all season and when I knew was going to play I knew I had to take my opportunity. In the second half I ran out of legs a bit, but overall I enjoyed it.

“Obviously there are strikers ahead of me doing well, but I showed what I can do today?.

“I want to get more minutes under my belt. If I play and score and I can show everybody what I can do, which will obviously mean I get more opportunities in the league.

Nouble started four matches last season and his first start came in last year’s Third Round defeat against Arsenal, but Saturday’s match was the first he has started in claret and blue this term.

“Obviously its been frustrating having to watch the games from the sidelines, but I have been training and working hard with the players in training and the manager has always told me I will get my chances sooner rather then later,” he said.

“I’ve just got to keep working hard. Last season was obviously good for me with (former boss) Zola I was itching to play this season. Its never to late to play.

“(The FA Cup) is where I made my debut last season against Arsenal so it means a lot. It’s great when we took the lead 1-0 but gave away the lead last time. We were winning 1-0 this time, but we held on this time and scored again. I was celebrating after we scored the second because I was happy.”