West Ham goal hero Zavon Hines insists he is ready to take his chance in the first-team after a hamstring injury to Carlton Cole.

The 20-year-old grabbed his first goal in the top flight when he pounced in injury time to earn struggling West Ham all three points against Aston Villa.

The 2-1 victory, their first home league win of the season, lifted the Hammers out of the bottom three.

However, manager Gianfranco Zola is now sweating on the fitness of England striker Cole.

He was forced out of the action in the first half but Hines is ready to seize his chance should Cole be sidelined for any length of time.

"I am delighted," said Hines. "It's my first Premier League goal so it's a good feeling to get started. Everyone is buzzing to get that first home win.

"I'm not a superstar, it's all about the team. I'm just really glad we got the win. The manager told me to go and do what I can do and that's what I did. It's just such a good feeling to get the win."

Hines looks certain to replace Cole against Everton on Sunday and the following weekend he could figure in England's Under-21 qualifier against Portugal at Wembley.

"I'm a very different player to Carlton, who's been tremendous for us so far, but I'm ready to do my level best," he added. "It's all about taking your chance when you get it. I had been plugging away in the reserves but I've got my opportunity this season and I've tried to take it."

Cole is likely to miss England's friendly against Brazil in Qatar on November 14 but on the club front Zola has no qualms about giving Hines a chance.

"Zavon was in the middle of three defenders when he scored but he kept his composure. He deserves to be in the spotlight."

Hines also played a part in West Ham's first goal, scored by Mark Noble from the penalty spot just before half-time, after referee Steve Bennett adjudged that the West Ham striker had been brought down by Habib Beye, who was booked.

While Noble scored from the spot-kick, Villa's Ashley Young failed to do so four minutes after the interval.

Manuel Da Costa was penalised for climbing on the back of James Collins but England goalkeeper Robert Green dived to his left to keep out Young's effort.

However, the Villa winger atoned for his blunder two minutes later with a goal of real quality - curling the ball over the head of Green from 25 yards.

Villa had Beye sent off in the closing stages and will also lose Stiliyan Petrov, who collected his fifth booking of the season, for one game.

Petrov was particularly disappointed that Villa failed to keep their concentration and take something from the game.

But the midfielder refused to blame Young over his penalty miss.

"We could have probably taken something from this game," said Petrov.

"I think we had enough opportunities to score goals but we didn't do it. There was only a minute to go and we couldn't keep our concentration.

"It is very frustrating. We try to win or take something from the game but the last two games we couldn't do that.

"We will continue to fight. It will be a long season and it's up to us to perform and carry on.

"If we want to be in the top four we have to win games like these. We know it's not enough and we have to do much better.

"It is up to us to stand up and be counted. Everybody misses penalties and that's not an issue.

"We had chances after that to win the game but we couldn't take them. We know we have ability but consistency is the main thing. If we want to do well we have to be consistent for longer."