Last Updated: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:20
West Ham midfielder Kieron Dyer is hoping to make his first-team comeback at Christmas after 16 months on the sidelines.
Dyer broke his leg against Bristol Rovers in the Carling Cup on just his third appearance for the Hammers in August 2007 then suffered a stress fracture which delayed his comeback at the start of this season.
But the 29-year-old is due play in a behind-closed-doors friendly later this week and is targeting a festive first-team return
"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."