New signing Lee Bowyer is set to make his West Ham debut tomorrow as his side entertain Newcastle United.
The controversial new acquisition has been troubled with an achilles problem in recent weeks, but should play at some part against the Magpies.
And everyone at the club will be hoping that he can finally put the frenetic activity of the past few days to one side and start to prove his worth on the football field at last.
Former Hammers legend Trevor Brooking is backing the former Leeds man to emulate another eyebrow-raising addition, Paolo Di Canio, and do just that.
"There have been comparisons with the Paolo signing after the problems he had --and that gamble has been hugely successful," said Brooking, now a director at Upton Park.
"They are different types of individuals and there are different reasons for how the possibility has arisen.
"But, if you look at it from Lee's point of view, he has to re-establish his career and he should be getting towards his peak.
"For different reasons he has had a difficult 18 months and I am sure he would just like to get back playing football -- hopefully West Ham will give him the stage to do so and get the rightful headlines."
But Brooking also warned that there are no guarantees over Bowyer's long-term commitment to the club.
The 26-year-old has signed a contract until the end of the current season, but there has been no decision over his future after that.
"It would be wrong for us to say 'we definitely know we can keep him' because we know that is not the situation -- and I am sure he wouldn't want to convey that," added Brooking.
Published Friday, January 10, 2003
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