Kieron Dyer hopes to return to Premier League action by Christmas after the West Ham midfielder was cleared to play in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week

KIERON DYER hopes to return to Premier League action by Christmas after the West Ham midfielder was cleared to play in a behind-closed-doors friendly this week.

Dyer has endured 15 months on the sidelines following a career-threatening injury in a Carling Cup tie against Bristol Rovers in August 2007.

The 29-year-old broke his leg in two places just two games into his West Ham career following a £6m switch from Newcastle.

But Dyer is now approaching full fitness and is confident that he is approaching the end of his injury nightmare.

He said: "I'm not going to be thrown straight back into the first team, but ideally I will have three or four preparation games and then be ready, perhaps for the Christmas period.

"It will be great to get that first game under my belt. Every day I feel sharper and I do believe now I need to make up for lost time."

Former England international Dyer had been lined up for a comeback in West Ham's pre-season friendly at former club Ipswich, but a setback consigned him to a further three months on the treatment table.

Now he is eager to prove his worth to new Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola.

"With the amount of football I've missed, I feel I have a good five years left in me," he said.