Collison return a timely one

West Ham need all the help they can get at the moment, with the Hammers two points away from safety after a run of form that went from being encouraging to poor before the long-suffering West Ham fans even realised what was happening. With only Wolves separating the club from the bottom position in the league, and with Wolves having a game in hand over the London club, it's clear that these are dark times indeed for Avram Grant and his team.

However, one man may be about to make a long-awaited return to try to change all that, with midfielder Jack Collison hoping to be able to fight his way back into the first team as the final few games of the season approach. With Collison forced to sit out more than a year of action with a serious knee injury, his return arguably couldn't come at a more important stage in the season, particularly as West Ham prepare for a trip to London rivals and title-chasing Chelsea this weekend, with West Ham manager Grant all too aware of the danger his former club could pose at home.



Although the Chelsea game probably won't be the right time for Collison to make his return, he could yet feature as a late substitute and will at least be in and around the dressing room as West Ham continue to look for inspiration to help them out on the pitch wherever they can find it. With Collison a man that many at the club believe is made from the same mould as captain Scott Parker, the fans will just be hoping that he can do his bit to prevent the worst from happening come the end of the season.



Should relegation become a reality for the Hammers, though, at least with youngsters such as Collison sticking around at the club, they'll have more than a fighting chance of securing promotion after just one season in the Championship.