West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola insists he was happy with Freddie Sears, despite hooking him at halftime of Saturday's 0-0 draw with Portsmouth.

He told whufc.com: "I'm really pleased with him. We try to give him some individual work but he sees the opportunity and he's working very hard in training sessions and his attitude is excellent. In the training sessions we are working a lot with the ball and this is making him sharp and improving him.

"It's all down to him, he's seen the opportunity and he's taken it. He has a future as long as he keeps the right attitude in that sometimes he won't play. If he can keep positive then he will have a bright future. "