Freddie Sears happy to go on loan

Freddie Sears is ready to prove he can be a big hit at West Ham by impressing while out on loan away from Upton Park next season.

Academy graduate Sears, 19, grabbed the headlines when he netted a late winner on his debut as a substitute against Blackburn in March 2008.

However, this season the young forward has not scored for the first team, although he has made progress with some 22 appearances, including seven starts.

England frontman Dean Ashton is expected to be spearheading the Hammers attack once he recovers full match fitness for the start of next season following from a troublesome ankle problem, which needed an operation.

Therefore, manager Gianfranco Zola believes Sears' continued development would benefit from some regular football elsewhere.

Coca-Cola Championship side Crystal Palace have already expressed an interest in the young striker.

"When you are not playing at West Ham, you just want to play football and going on loan is something I would definitely be interested in," Sears said in the East London Advertiser.

"Some of the boys have come back after going out on loan and you can see that it is helped - just confidence-wise and just playing in front of thousands of people every week."

Sears added: "We have discussed what could happen at the start of next season and I think the Championship is a good, strong level to go and develop your football.

"For me, a London team would be nice, but if you have to go away from home, you live with it."
Sears, an England Under-19 international, remains confident in his own ability.

"I feel like I am a goalscorer," he said.
"It is hard not playing every game because you need a little run in the team to get going, but once you get a goal, your confidence is really high.

"I think if I play a few games, I will have a chance to show what I can really do."

Palace boss Warnock feels Sears could add some bite to his side's frontline as they aim to mount a promotion challenge.

"Freddie Sears is the sort of player that would interest us - we are looking for players of Premier League quality and experience," he said.

Even though the chance of qualifying for Europe is now over, the Hammers, currently ninth, will be looking to sign off with a victory over relegation-threatened Middlesbrough at Upton Park on Sunday.

Midfielder Jack Collison said on the club's official website, www.whufc.com: "We want to end the season on a high, especially at Upton Park in front of our own fans as it is not nice to lose any game.

"Unfortunately we are not going to make Europe, but we are going to look to put in a good performance and end the season with a bit of a buzz."