Grant positive despite Hammers plight

After a wretched start to his tenure that saw West Ham lose their first four Premier League matches, the tide has since slowly started to turn. A win over Spurs and draws with Stoke and Fulham in the last three matches, combined with a win at Sunderland to reach the last 16 of the Carling Cup, have at least eased some of Grant's anxiety even if his side continue to prop up the table. Grant, though, is troubled by nature as he said: "First, I am paid to worry. I don't know if you know that. I am worried all the time. "When I was in first place with Chelsea I worried. I always worry, and I have to be like this. "But we are thinking positive. If we continue to do what we do, we will not be in last place and not in the relegation zone at the end of the season." Grant admits that positive attitude, even after such adversity at the start, has been critical to the players and the team who are growing in self-belief. "After we lost four games psychology was very important to help us go in another direction," Grant told the club's official website. "We did it well because, apart from the first match at Aston Villa, we have also played good football. "The difference now is we have taken points and are in a situation where we are at the bottom of the table, but are three points from 11th place and six points - two wins - from fourth place." What is now vital for West Ham's hopes of survival is to rid themselves of a monkey that has been on their back for the last 21 away matches in the league. Regardless of the Carling Cup win at the Stadium of Light, West Ham have not won on their travels in the top flight since the opening day of last season, with that game at Saturday's opponents Wolves. "It was good to win against Sunderland three weeks ago," said the Israeli. "I know it was a year ago since we last won in the league and that it was at Wolves. It would be good to do it again. "I can analyse a lot of things that have happened here in the last year, but I prefer to look forward and do the right things. "I am sure we are doing the right things, and I am sure we will win away games, and more than one or two. "Right now I can only speak about this season. We have been away to Manchester United, Aston Villa and Stoke. "These were not easy places and, although we did well against Stoke, these games belong to the past." Grant, meanwhile, has confirmed Thomas Hitzlsperger will be out for another four months with a thigh injury. The 28-year-old midfielder, who joined West Ham on a free transfer from Lazio in the summer, has yet to feature competitively for his new club after being injured playing for Germany in pre-season. Grant is convinced Hitzlsperger will eventually prove to be a good acquisition as he said: "He was very good in pre-season until he got injured three days before the start. "He was a major part of our team, but we have not had him until now. We know he is important and he will do things that are good for us. "For the moment the doctors say four months before he is back, so it will be around February, but we need to wait and see." Kieron Dyer should return for the trip to Molineux after missing the draw with Fulham a fortnight ago with a stomach bug.