AHMED Abdulla is hoping to be given the opportunity to face his former side tonight, after the midfielder completed a short-term move to Dagenham & Redbridge yesterday.

The 20-year-old made his Football League debut during a two-month spell on loan at Swindon from West Ham earlier this season.

Abdulla’s appearances mainly came from off the bench while at the Robins before injury cut short his time at the club and he returned to the Hammers.

Earlier this year he was back playing League Two football after joining the Daggers for a month’s loan, and he went on to make four starts for John Still’s side.

Abdulla has now signed a permanent deal until the end of the season and, with his immediate future now sorted, he cannot wait to get back out on the pitch.

“I am glad to be back at Dagenham and hopefully I can push on this time,” he said. “The two clubs (Dagenham and West Ham) have been negotiating in recent weeks, but I spent the time training with the squad here and keeping fit.

“I would love to be involved tonight. That is up to the manager obviously and I will be happy to do what he says.

“I enjoyed my time at Swindon and Paolo Di Canio gave me my opportunity in league football, so I will always be grateful for that.”

While Swindon are battling to escape League Two, Dagenham & Redbridge are fighting to stay in it, with the club teetering just above the relegation zone.

Their form has improved recently with successive wins over Morecambe and Bradford, and Abdulla sees no reason why they cannot come away with a result at the County Ground tomorrow.

“We are a battling team. We are down at the bottom and we are just putting our heads down and winning games and we fought well on Saturday,” he added.

“The tables have turned a bit I feel and now, when second balls are dropping we are getting onto them, the players are all getting used to playing each other and they know what they are doing.

“Swindon are a very strong team and they are fighting to go up. It is a top against bottom type of clash, but I believe if we go there we can definitely do a job and get a point or maybe nick all three.”