The Hammers may be just five points above the relegation zone in a congested Barclays Premier League table but they head to St James' Park in 10th place and with spirits high after three straight victories.

Zola feels his side have turned the corner after a sticky patch in the autumn saw the Hammers go seven games without a win and start to look nervously over their shoulders.

West Ham are now aiming for a top-half finish and Cottee believes a victory at Newcastle tomorrow could be the springboard for a memorable debut season for Zola at Upton Park.

"It's an important game. Our two league wins over Christmas lifted us into 10th place and if we can win it would great. We could almost start thinking about getting a European place," Cottee told the club's website.

When Zola's reign at Upton Park began with a 3-1 win over Newcastle, both clubs were in a state of upheaval having lost their managers in the early weeks of the season.

Joe Kinnear has managed to steady the ship on Tyneside and Newcastle are now on West Ham coat-tails as one of 13 teams separated by just nine points between eighth and last place.

But Zola is confident his men are up to the challenge.

After that difficult run through the autumn, West Ham are now unbeaten on the road in five matches, including draws at title contenders Liverpool and Chelsea.

It is the club's best away form in the top flight since the 2000-01 season and Zola said: "The mood is quite high. The players are getting their confidence back and they are performing well," said Zola.

"I'm very pleased with our away form. The team is looking solid right now and is playing well. The confidence is coming back to everybody, even to the manager!

"I believe that we can still improve and I'm expecting that we will improve in the next game.

"I'm expecting a tough game because they need points and they will be very determined to get them but we are prepared. We can cause them a lot of problems."

Zola may not be thinking about Europe quite yet - one glance at the league table will show how closely-fought that race will be - but he is certainly targeting a top-half finish from his debut season in charge.

"We are 10th but we are one point off ninth place and we want to move up," said Zola.

"What this last few months has taught me is that you can't take anything for granted. Three weeks ago we were talking differently about the team's situation in the league.

"What we need to do now is put a little bit more distance between us and the clubs behind us.

"We want to take the team to a better level. We have targets and to achieve them we have to keep our best players."

West Ham have rejected a lucrative bid from Manchester City for Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker while Zola views the imminent return to action of Kieron Dyer as a new signing.

Dyer came off the bench against Barnsley last weekend to make his first appearance in 17 months since breaking his leg and, despite being some way short of match fitness, he could feature in the squad against his old club tomorrow.

Zola added: "He is a very important player for this club and he knows that. He needs to improve his fitness level because the Premier League is hard physically.

"But I am pleased with him and the way he played the other day."