The Italian striker, who joined the Barclays Premier League outfit in September on a 12-month loan deal from Torino, has been linked with an early return to the Serie A side.

But he said: "I am at West Ham. I hope to do well, to return to play and to score as many as possible. Then it's down to the two clubs to speak about my loan deal.

"My limited playing time is perhaps due to the fact that I have a player like (Craig) Bellamy, who is not just anybody, ahead of me.

"Or maybe that having started strongly I have also been affected by the team's drop in form in a difficult tournament."

Di Michele, who turns 33 on Tuesday, insists he has the utmost respect for Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola and added: "He always gives me advice. It is not easy not to play but I trust him, he knows English football and he helps me."