Hogan Ephraim said he is playing football with a smile on his face again - despite picking up an injury he says left him unable to walk.

The former West Ham United youngster has lived a nomadic existence over the last couple of seasons, even having a loan spell in Canada with MLS side Toronto.

After a frustrating summer the 26-year-old signed for Wanderers in October, deciding to commit to the club within minutes of meeting with manager Gareth Ainsworth and chairman Andrew Howard.

Ephraim said he is now enjoying his football again, even though his settling-in was hampered by a freak back injury that kept him out for two months.

He said he made the decision to get in touch with Ainsworth, a former team mate of his at QPR, following an off season largely spent kicking his heels after an appearance for Blues in a friendly against Chesham United.

Ephraim said: "There were a few things lined up. It just kept going on every day - I had calls from owners saying, 'We are taking over this club, we are doing this tomorrow'. At the end of the day I thought, 'I need to get back playing my football with someone I can trust'.

"I was watching an Arsenal Champions League game and I gave the manager here a text and said, 'If you fancy it, I'd love to come down and sign for the club'.

"The manager said to come in to train and to come down and meet the chairman. I met with the chairman at the Dagenham and Redbridge game, and everything was settled within literally two and a half minutes.

"It was perfect. He [Ainsworth] has been great with me, the assistant manager's been ideal, and the owner.

"We know each other well from QPR and I know he's going to get me back enjoying football.

"That was the main thing. Over the last two years I haven't really enjoyed it - day to day hasn't been great.

"Him and the boys have got a smile back on my face and I feel I'll start to show my best football.

"For the trust and the faith they've put in me, I want to play to the best of my abilities."

Ephraim scored his first goal for Blues in what was only his seventh appearance, having suffered a serious injury against Burton Albion in November.

He said: "I knew I had done the injury in the first ten minutes of the game, but I didn't know how bad it was. I managed to play 90 minutes and an hour after the game I was in big trouble.

"It was disappointing to be out for six-seven weeks, but now I want to get back playing. Once I get another two or three games under my belt, I feel I'll be back to my best.

"It was a bulging disc on my back, which was on one of my nerves. Every time I walked on my left side, my nerve was triggered. I literally couldn't walk.

"There wasn't much treatment we could do, but hopefully it's all clear roads from here.

"It's more frustrating because I came in and played the Oxford game, which I felt went well, had a few cameo appearances and had the start against Burton."