MANUEL DA COSTA is determined to repay West Ham for rescuing him from his Serie A nightmare. The 23-year-old joined the Hammers last week as part of the deal that sent Savio Nsereko to Fiorentina, bringing to an end a miserable spell in Italy. Da Costa fa

MANUEL DA COSTA is determined to repay West Ham for rescuing him from his Serie A nightmare.

The 23-year-old joined the Hammers last week as part of the deal that sent Savio Nsereko to Fiorentina, bringing to an end a miserable spell in Italy.

Da Costa failed to settle in Florence after moving from PSV Eindhoven, where he had emerged as a promising defender under Ronald Koeman.

He made just one league appearance for the Viola before being shipped out on loan to Sampdoria, where the centre-half also struggled.

Da Costa suffered a fresh blow when he was omitted from Fiorentina's Champions League squad last month, and the Portugal international is desperate to revive his career at Upton Park.

He said: "I have spoken to Gianluca Nani and Gianfranco Zola and they want to give me an opportunity to relaunch my career.

"For me now the most important thing is to establish a place in the team since I have come from a period in which I played very little. I want to convince Zola and the technical staff that I am a player they can count on."

Da Costa has fond memories of his previous experience of English football after playing for PSV in a 2006 Champions League match against Liverpool. "I remember when I played for PSV against Liverpool it was a fantastic atmosphere," he recalled.

"In English football the passion of the supporters really appeals to me. I am excited to be playing in London.