The Italian striker, who joined the Premier League outfit in September on a 12-month loan deal from Torino, has been linked with an early return to the Serie A side.

But he said: "I am at West Ham. I hope to do well, to return to play and to score as many as possible.

"Then it's down to the two clubs to speak about my loan deal."

Di Michele, who was a starter at former clubs Palermo, Udinese and Toro, has scored twice in six league appearances for West Ham this campaign.

Wales forward Craig Bellamy is coach Gianfranco Zola's preferred choice in attack and Di Michele, who turns 33 tomorrow, knows he has a lot of work to do to earn a starting place.

"My limited playing time is perhaps due to the fact that I have a player like Bellamy, who is not just anybody, ahead of me," said Di Michele.

"Or maybe that having started strongly I have also been affected by the team's drop in from in a difficult tournament."

Di Michele has great admiration for Zola and is happy to play the waiting game.

"Zola is a very respected person, calm and available to everyone," he said.

"He always gives me advice.

"It is not easy not to play but I trust him, he knows English football and he helps me."

Di Michele does not believe the reported cash crisis which has hit the club and led to several West Ham stars being linked with a move away from Upton Park is affecting the team.

"We don't speak about the crisis at the club and within the team," he said.

"Everything works fine: we get paid on time, everyone gives their best and no-one demands to be transferred.

"We only hear about the crisis in the press but we don't talk about it because here we only think about playing."