Striker David Connolly is revelling in a return to an out-and-out striker's role -- and he is hoping to make a scoring return to Molineux on Sunday.

The Republic of Ireland international spent the 1998-9 season on loan at Wolves, scoring six goals in 18 league starts as he tried to convince his then bosses at Feyenoord he had a future.

And that makes him well-placed to judge how much this weekend's appetising FA Cup clash will mean to both sides.

"It will be a good game, a fairly even contest and one which both ourselves and Wolves will fancy," said Connolly.

"Obviously Wolves are a big club and they're back in the Premier League where they want to be.

"It's a good stadium, especially when the fans get behind them and things are going well -- pretty similar to West Ham."

It was in the FA Cup third round that Connolly ended his goal drought with an impressive individual effort to kill off Wigan.

More on West Ham United atthe official site

Published Thursday January 22, 2004

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