Daily WHUFC News - 25th July 2016

Reid – It was a match we needed
WHUFC.com

Reid delighted with team performance in 3-0 win over Karlsruher SC
West Ham United round off Austria tour with big win over German side
Hammers now face NK Domzale in UEFA Europa League on Thursday
Winston Reid says West Ham United are ready for the challenge presented by
Slovenian side NK Domzale in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round
this week. The New Zealand international played 85 minutes as the Hammers
defeated Karlsruher SC of Germany 3-0 on Saturday, rounding off an intense
week of three friendlies in Austria. For the second year in succession West
Ham's season is starting earlier than normal due to their participation in
European football and Reid cannot wait to get the competitive action
underway. "It was a really good performance on Saturday," he said. "We knew
we needed and we wanted to win a game, so it was nice to get one under our
belts. "It was a competitive match and a match we needed going into Europe
this week. Conditions were really hot, so it was a good test for everyone.
We made good use of the ball and when we didn't have it we tried to save our
energy and wait for the moments when we could press the opposition. "All in
all, we scored three good goals and it was a good match."

Five matches into pre-season, the Hammers are honing their match fitness and
with Angelo Ogbonna, James Collins and Dimitri Payet all due to return to
the squad soon following their participation in the latter stages of Euro
2016, Reid feels the pieces of the jigsaw are all coming together. "We feel
like we're getting better with every game," he added. "It's still
pre-season, but it's getting closer and closer to the important matches.
Next week we have the European game, then we've got the first games at the
new Stadium. "It's good – the guys have been through most of the hard work
now, so we're fine tuning and getting ourselves ready. "It's been a good
week in Austria. For me personally, I wasn't able to be a part of the first
two games, but I got back into the swing of things on Saturday and played 85
minutes. It was good to get back into the groove of it and everyone has
benefited from the trip."

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Westley - We showed character
WHUFC.com

The Dev Squad, after going three goals down, were narrowly beaten 3-2 by
Southend United
The League One outfit put out a full-strength side
Competition for places in the U21s goes on heading towards the start of the
season
Development Squad boss Terry Westley was pleased with the character his
players displayed to fight back and set up a nervy finish against League One
side Southend United on Saturday. The Hammers found themselves 3-0 goals
down ten minutes into the second half, but scored twice in the final 15
minutes to make things nervy at Burroughs Park in Essex. And Westley praised
his side's attitude as they hit back in the clash despite looking down and
out. He said: "You fear a little bit for the worst when you play a
Peterborough United side on Tuesday with such a young team and then look at
them in training and see them physically tired. "I thought it would be
really difficult against Southend, but we came through it really well and
showed some good character. "You like that mental toughness. We were fine
with the ball first half, but they were stronger and a tad more physical
than Peterborough. To come back to make it 3-2 was really positive."

With many of the Development Squad's regular starters away in Austria with
the first team, Westley named a young side but he was impressed with the
performance of the entire squad. "This was Southend's full-strength squad,
and even the subs made weren't young boys," he continued. "Ours were –
Kristjian Belic is 15-years-of-age, we have some 16-year-olds too. It was a
real test. "Diego Poyet came through it which was good for him to get some
minutes under his belt, and the same with Alex Pike and Grady Diangana.
They're the senior ones and those three stood out. "Both goalkeepers did
well. It was a real challenge for them. Nathan Trott first half and Sam
Howes second half – there's a competition on there for places."

The youngsters head to Holland on Sunday and Westley feels the trip is the
perfect opportunity for the players to aspire to reach the levels of their
teammates with Slaven Bilic's squad. He added: "I said to the team today,
when you look at Samuelsen, Burke, Oxford, Cullen, Quina, Rice, Page all
away, you've got to be good to get in this team this year. "When they're
away in Holland, they have to put in a real shift to convince the staff they
should be in the team."

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Hector-Ingram - We've gained confidence
WHUFC.com

Forward Jahmal Hector-Ingram was pleased with the Development Squad's
performance vs. Southend
The striker grabbed the Hammers' second in a 3-2 defeat
He outlined his hopes for the season after the clash
Young Hammer Jahmal Hector-Ingram revealed the Development Squad's
performance against Southend United on Saturday has given the side bundles
of confidence. The U21s were narrowly beaten 3-2 by the League One outfit,
but displayed plenty of spirit in the second half to almost recover from
going three goals down. The Hammers' second was scored by Hector-Ingram, who
was delighted to find the back of the net against the Shrimpers. He said:
"It feels good to score and it always feels nice to get a goal, especially
in pre-season. It's good to try and get off the mark as quickly as possible
"I actually thought we were going to pull it back to equalise in the end,
after we had got it back to 3-2. In the end, it was unlucky and it wasn't
meant to be but all our lads showed great character. "The side we were
facing were an experienced team with Football League players in, so most
definitely, the performance gives us a lot of confidence."

Phil Brown's men provided a physical test for the youngsters, who looked
down-and-out at 3-0 shortly after the half time break. But Anthony Scully's
penalty gave Terry Westley's side – who travel to the Netherlands on Sunday
– hope and Hector-Ingram reduced the deficit further. The forward went on to
explain his mentality after performing well against the third tier outfit.
"It shows us things like perhaps if we can compete with these players, we
are good enough to potentially come here for a loan or something," continued
the 17-year-old. "We can achieve the same things so the display we showed
was quite promising today. "The game was brilliant preparation for us ahead
of the Holland trip, too. Every individual in our team has been working so
hard this summer. So far, this is the best pre-season I've had at this Club
and I've been here for many years now. Everyone is ready for Holland."

Ahead of the 2016/17 campaign, Hector-Ingram also discussed his personal
hopes for the season. "I want to be with the 21s as much as I can this year.
I'm seeing all these youngsters from all around the world and even the
Premier League getting some sort of first team opportunity and shining.
"That leaves me thinking, why not?"

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West Ham defender Aaron Cresswell to undergo scan on knee injury
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 24/07/16 3:00pm
SSN

West Ham are facing an anxious wait to discover the full extent of Aaron
Cresswell's knee injury after the defender was forced off towards the end of
their pre-season victory over Karlsruher on Saturday. The 26-year-old
left-back, who has missed just one Premier League match over the past two
seasons, was left writhing in agony on the pitch following a heavy challenge
from Karlsruher midfielder Grischa Promel and immediately signalled to the
bench. After receiving treatment on the field, Cresswell managed to get
back to his feet before walking off with the assistance of West Ham's
physio. Cresswell will undergo scans this week to determine the full
extent of the damage sustained, but Claret and Hugh, a West Ham fan site,
have claimed he could face up to six months on the sidelines. West Ham
co-chairman David Gold confirmed the claim was with foundation and they are
awaiting the results of the scans. "CandH sources are accurate and we are
apprehensive but it doesn't look minor. We await the scans in the next day
or so good luck Aaron. DG," Gold said via his official Twitter account.
Cresswell's injury was the only blot on a productive afternoon for Slaven
Bilic's side, who defeated their Bundesliga 2 opponents 3-0 thanks to goals
from Andy Carroll, Sofiane Feghouli and Ashley Fletcher.

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West Ham fear Aaron Cresswell could be out for up to sixth months with knee
injury
19:45, 24 JUL 2016 UPDATED 21:24, 24 JUL 2016
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
Cresswell was forced off with a serious-looking knee injury after a
crunching challenge in the Hammers' 3-0 friendly win over Karlsruher on
Saturday
The Mirror

West Ham fear Aaron Cresswell could be out injured for up to sixth months.
Cresswell was forced off with a serious-looking knee injury after a
crunching challenge in the Hammers' 3-0 friendly win over Karlsruher on
Saturday. West Ham are now sweating on the results of a scan on their
first-choice left-back's knee. Co-chairman David Gold described suggestions
Cresswell could be sidelined for a "minimum of four weeks and maximum of six
months" as "accurate". He added: "We are apprehensive but it doesn't look
minor. We await the scans in the next day or so. Good luck Aaron. Boss
Slaven Bilic said: "The only downside of this game is that we have to see
what is wrong with Cresswell. "He got injured and it didn't look that good."

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West Ham targeting Toulouse striker Wissam Ben Yedder as forward search
continues
20:52, 24 JUL 2016 UPDATED 21:28, 24 JUL 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
The Hammers still have 29-year-old Carlos Bacca as their top target with the
AC Milan hitman thinking over a contract offer
The Mirror

West Ham are targeting Toulouse striker Wissam Ben Yedder as their forward
search continues. The Hammers still have 29-year-old Carlos Bacca as their
top target. The AC Milan hitman is thinking over a contract offer.
But Hammers are also keen on Ben Yedder who has just a year left on his
contract. The frontman is valued at around £8million and scored 17 goals in
Ligue 1 last season despite his club only just avoiding relegation.
Ben Yedder has played three times for France's Under-21s. The 25-year-old
came through at UJA Alfortville before switching to Toulouse in 2010.

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West Ham Expecting Manuel Lanzini Back Following International Duty Injury
Insidefutball.com

West Ham United co-chairman David Gold says he expects midfielder Manuel
Lanzini to return to the club for treatment after he picked up an injury on
international duty. Lanzini was included in Argentina's squad for the
forthcoming Olympic Games, but picked up an injury in training with the
national side recently. The Argentine FA confirmed that Lanzini had suffered
a sprain in his left knee and now Gold expects the attacking midfielder to
arrive back in England to be assessed. Asked about Lanzini on Twitter, Gold
replied: "Expecting Lanzini to return for treatment."
The 23-year-old's involvement in the Olympic Games meant he may well have
missed the start of West Ham's Premier League campaign in any event, but the
injury could now mean he is unavailable for even longer.
Lanzini joined West Ham, initially on loan, from Al Jazira, at the start of
last season. The Argentine impressed quickly and was then snapped up on a
permanent deal.

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