VICTOR Obinna is confident he can strike up a formidable partnership with Carlton Cole that will fire West Ham out of the relegation mire.

Obinna was given a baptism of fire in his first game for the Hammers when he was preferred in attack to Freddie Piquionne for last week's game against Premier League leaders and defending champions Chelsea.

The early signs for West Ham's fans were good, as the Nigerian international kept John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic occupied all afternoon with some intelligent movement. He could have even bagged himself a hat-trick before half-time but some wayward finishing ensured Chelsea stayed in control, eventually running out 3-1 winners.

“It was a good start for me to have my debut like this but it was unfortunate I could not put some of the chances we created in the back of the net,” said Obinna, who is on loan at Upton Park from Inter Milan.

One such chance was brilliantly worked with Cole, Obinna latching on to a lofted through ball from his strike partner, only for his first-time volleyed effort to be skewed wide of the target.

The striker also demonstrated an impressive versatility, switching to the left flank when Freddie Piquionne was introduced to the fray and continuing to cause problems. One devilish delivery into the box almost got a touch from Cole but it did find its way to Piquionne, who inexplicably missed a header from a yard out with the goal gaping.

That sort of link-up play will delight manager Avram Grant, who will be desperate for the two to score the goals that take West Ham off the foot of the Premier League table.

“He’s a very good striker, who is very strong and good with the ball. He knows how to keep the ball, knows how to play one twos and play good passes at the right times,” Obinna said of Cole.

“I really enjoy playing with him because I find it easier to operate with him flicking the ball down, so I can go past him to pick up the ball.

“We have to keep practicing more and more. I just arrived this week and I haven’t had much time to practice with him.”

The new arrival even made the bold prediction that the Hammers could win their next three league games against Stoke City (on Saturday), Tottenham and Fulham.

“It is not a very good atmosphere,” he admitted. “Everybody knows what is going on and obviously we want to do well and make sure we start winning games, which is the most important thing. I believe we can win three games now, but we have to start to take one step at a time and I believe starting at the next game against Stoke we just have to do everything.

“We have to go back and improve on our mistakes and make sure we don’t repeat the same thing and score goals.”