Hammers defender wants his future sorted out

West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon is desperate to make up for ‘the lost years’ and earn a new contract at the club.

Crippling back and abdominal injuries left the Welshman on the sidelines for two years, but after a string of impressive performances across the back four this season, he is desperate to continue to show his worth to the team and seal that new deal.

“This is my last year now, so it’s quite an important season for me. I want to stay fit and play games and prove I’m worthy of a new contract,” he said.

“We haven’t started talking about one yet.

“I think I’ll have to play a few more games and prove my fitness for a little bit longer. If I can keep playing, and playing well that hopefully will come.

“It has been a couple of lost years, it’s been a long road. It’s been tough. I came back last season and played maybe 10 or 11 games but kept getting little niggles.

“Pre-season went really well and I’m just trying to make up for lost time, really. It’s just nice to be out there in the team and performing and helping my team-mates get some points.”

The versatile defender has been more than solid at both centre half and left back so far this campaign and with Matthew Upson and Manuel Da Costa building a solid partnership in the middle, Gabbidon may have to be satisfied with a place at full back for the time being.

“Obviously I prefer it in the middle, but at the moment I’m having to do a job there (left back). I’m just enjoying playing at the moment. If it means playing left-back I’ll do that for the team. I’m not bothered about that,” he said.

“I played there a couple of times there last season. I did start as a right-back at West Bromwich Albion, so it’s not totally foreign to me as a position. But I haven’t played there for a few years, but if the manager wants me to do a job there. I’ll play striker if he wants me to.”

With Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne in top form at the moment it is unlikely that boss Avram Grant will be calling on Gabbidon to lead the line this Saturday against west London neighbours Fulham in the district line derby at Upton Park.

“We’ll be up for that one definitely. Confidence is going to be high going into that one,” he said.

“We’ve got a good run of games now where we can start picking up points. It might be a good time to play Fulham because they’ve got a few injuries, with Zamora and Dembele out.

“It’s another derby game, and we’re going to have to play well again to get points. They are a good side, Fulham. Hopefully we’ll start picking up points to move up the table now.”