LUIS Boa Morte has admitted his frustration at being left out of the West Ham team in recent weeks, but still believes he made the right decision to join the Irons.

The Portuguese forward left Fulham in a £5million deal in January and was part of the Hammers team that pulled off a great escape from relegation last season.

And the former Arsenal player was in the starting line-up as Alan Curbishley's side kicked off the new year against Manchester City.

But Boa Morte was replaced by Matty Etherington midway through the 2-0 opening day defeat and has started just two matches since - largely due to the East Enders' lengthy injury list.

"Of course I started the game against Manchester City but ever since then I've only been starting in League Cup games so I wasn't happy with that," said Boa Morte.

"But that doesn't mean that I'm not going to work for the team because I have to respect the decisions that the manager makes.

"So, I just don't want to be sitting around. I want to be expressing myself on the pitch.

"I know that I have to accept the decisions the manager makes but that doesn't mean I need to be happy with them.

"The thing I need to do is keep working as hard as I can and wait for my next opportunity."

Boa Morte has started the Hammers' last three matches and is hoping for more opportunities to "express himself" in the coming weeks.

Despite the disappointment of finding himself on the substitutes' bench in recent weeks, Boa Morte is still sure he made the right decision to swap Craven Cottage for Upton Park.

"Of couse I liked my time at Fulham, but at one stage, I felt like I had to move on," he added.

"I never felt unwanted at Fulham, but I had a good opportunity to move to West Ham and thought Why not?'.

"It's a bigger club and has different players. It's a new challenge.

"I also want to play European football. Fulham will always be fighting to stay in the Premier League and outside the relegation zone but West Ham will be different.

"We are challenging for the top six or top eight and are also in the Carling Cup, which is a route into Europe."