The 29-year-old made the switch from Ligue 1 to England on a six-month loan deal, having played for Sochaux and then Saint-Etienne. "It's easier for me to adapt to English football because I've already played for five years in France," the Brazilian told the club's official website. "The football is more similar to the English game than many of the other European leagues "I've been in France for a long time and this will give me an advantage. Normally when players come to England from the French league, they do quite well and I am confident that I can do well too." Ilan scored three minutes into his Hammers debut when he came off the bench in the 2-1 defeat at Burnley. Now he is hoping to find a starting role at Upton Park under Gianfranco Zola, and added: "I can play mainly as a support striker, or I can play behind the front two - but more as a third attacker than a central midfielder. "I'm very happy to be working under a manager like Gianfranco Zola. He's played at the highest level and can understand players more easily than coaches who have not played at the highest level themselves. From this point of view, Zola is the perfect manager."
