AMERICAN utility man Jonathan Spector has signed a new three-year contract with West Ham United, according to reports.

The Illinois-born player, who has been ruled out since April with a hip injury, has signed an extension to his current deal and will now remain at Upton Park until June 2011.

Initially brought to England by Manchester United, Spector spent a season on loan at Charlton Athletic before joining the Hammers in the summer of 2006.

Since then, he has made 55 appearances for the Irons, 22 of which have come as a substitute.

However, the 22-year-old's short career has been blighted by injury, with a torn labrum keeping him out of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August.

But, despite that frustration, Spector is not rushing back before he is completely confident of his fitness.

"Obviously, it gets tougher and tougher each week you're out," Spector told ESPN Soccernet.

"It gets more frustrating because all you want to be doing is playing. But when you're out for that length of time, one week here or there you're not going to take a big risk unless you're completely comfortable -- because in the big picture, an extra week isn't make-or-break."

Spector, who has filled in at full-back, centre-half and in defensive midfield for the Londoners, is now aiming to become a "maintstay" in Gianfranco Zola's side.

And the American, who has yet to feature under the Italian, believes the former Chelsea star will arrest the East Enders' current struggles and lead them to Premier League safety this season.

"He's had an impact on the club since he's returned to English football, and I think it's a positive impact," Spector added.

"I know the results as of late haven't been what we want, but just in terms of the way the team is playing, I think we're playing much better football, and I think that in the long run it's going to pay off."