West Ham youngster Alfie Lewis is delighted to be back in action.

Lewis, 18, ended last season with a serious knee injury, but has since penned pro terms and fought his way back to full fitness.

He told whufc.com: “I was out with a knee injury for quite a while. It happened at the end of April. I came back around September, but then I hurt it again and had to sit out for another month.

“I had to go through rehabilitation and have loads of injections. However, I could still feel something wasn't quite right. It didn't feel strong enough to be back playing and I kept catching it in tackles. It just wasn't stable.

“It was a bit gutting but I knew my knee wasn't right when I stepped back out in September, to be honest."

It was not just the fact his knee was in pain that played on Lewis's mind, with the youngster admitting the continued injury also had a detrimental effect mentally.

“It plays on your mind. It's not just a physical thing but psychologically an injury can affect your game.

“But now it feels good. I'm feeling 100 percent. I'm ready to crack on now after Christmas and have a good end to the season."