LOUGHTON-based Paul Kitson celebrated his return to the West Ham starting line-up with a hat-trick at the Valley two weeks ago, much to the delight and at the same time the shock, of the fans, the media, and even the modest man himself.

Speaking exclusively to the Guardian after his side's 1-0 defeat at the hands of London rivals Tottenham last Saturday, Kitson, 30, told us how his roller coaster time at Upton Park was now levelling out to an even keel on which he could now start to make the fans and the management sit up and take notice.

Speaking about the Charlton game, he said, "I was surprised at the hat-trick. I would have been happy with one goal, but to get three was amazing.

"I've been like that all season really, I scored seven goals in four games for the reserves so it's just come off the back of that."

With his form in order and him looking at his sharpest for a long time, 'Kits' will now be hoping to cause manager Glenn Roeder some selection headaches when he has to pick his target men.

Being in the mix for a place in the starting line-up will make a nice chance for the man who, before the Charlton game, had not started a game since February 2000 due to being out of favour with previous manager Harry Redknapp.

He continued: "Harry and me didn't get on, but Glenn said to me at the beginning of the season that he would give me a chance now. These days I'm excited coming into training whereas last season I wasn't.

"I'm happier now definitely. Glenn has been honest with me and he said that I would get my chances."

So if Kits keeps banging them in, how would he feel if he caught the eye of Sven Goran Eriksson?

"Well, he was at the Charlton game, but there's some quality players round the country. I just want to get my place here, I don't even think about England."

The chance that he now has to keep his place has come just at the right time, as Kits will be trying all he can to get a new deal in the summer when his current contract expires.

"I've never wanted to leave West Ham but who knows what will happen? I want to stay and I've done myself no harm by scoring the hat-trick on Monday."

Should Kits stay at Upton Park, he is experienced enough to know that football is a fickle game and goals will not always come as easily as they did at the Valley.

"It's been a roller coaster week. It just goes to show, you score three goals one day and then today I didn't really have a chance, we didn't really create that much."

"I was disappointed with the result today, it was a poor goal to give away but that's the way it is."

November 30, 2001 10:56