Holland has single aim under “brilliant” boss

Nathan Holland has confirmed his only aim this season is to be in and around the first team squad.

With Manuel Pellegrini and the squad heading back to London and a match at Wycombe this weekend many players will soon be learning their fate – out, loan or first team!

The young winger has his heart set on being part of the first team squad after a great fortnight in Switzerland and said:  “The aim is to be in and around the first team this year.

I want to play for West Ham and I want to play at London Stadium. I’ve just got to keep working hard, day in and day out, and see what happens. Hopefully I will get my chance. ”

Pellegrini will have a key meeting with Academy chief Terry Westley at which he will give his verdict on where the youngsters fit into his plans.

And Holland said: “The new boss has given a few of us Academy lads a chance straight from the off in pre-season. It’s now down to us to impress, whether it’s a little quick session or it’s a full game. We’ve got to give more than 100 per cent and show him what we can do.”

Having been coached by Pellegrini for the last ten days, Holland can already see what makes the Chilean one of the world’s leading managers, and is relishing the opportunity to be guided by him.

He added: “He’s a brilliant manager. He definitely knows his stuff, and I’m enjoying learning from him.

“He’s very big on attacking football but he also knows that we need to be strong when it comes to defending, so he’s been enabling us to do that and given us a platform to get even better. He’s brought in a new style and I think we’ve adapted to it quite quickly.”

 

 

About Hugh5outhon1895

Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!" Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon