McKinlay lauds new boy Scamacca

Billy McKinlay took the questions ahead of West Ham’s clash with Viborg FF and insisted that striker Gianluca Scamacca is settling in well in east London.

The Hammers splashed £35.5m to bring the striker into the club from Sassuolo.

However, he has yet to start a game for the Irons, coming on as a substitute in the defeats to both Manchester City and Nottingham Forest.

The Irons are yet to score a goal in the Premier League, losing 2-0 to City and 1-0 to Forest, but McKinlay, who was deputising for David Moyes due to his suspension, insists the Irons are confident Scamacca will soon hit the goal trail.

He was prolific during his time in Italy, scoring 16 times for Sassuolo in 41 games, and he has also won seven caps for Italy.

Speaking ahead of the Viborg game, McKinlay refused to confirm whether Scamacca or fellow new signing Maxwel Cornet would start, but he insists that the forward has made a real impression.

Quoted by Football.London, he said: “I think he’s settled in very well. He looks like a good technician. He is a powerful boy, good finisher. We’ve lacked a little bit of that in the past year or so. I think Gianluaca can come in and compete with that.

“The Premier League is probably the most physical league in the world. We have seen enough since looking to bring him to the club and we have seen enough from him so far.

“He’s a bit short on match fitness. We can’t expect players to re-invent the wheel when he has only been here five minutes. He’s getting ready to sample the West Ham way pretty soon and we think physically, he is pushing towards that. Minutes will help of course.”

 

About Dave Langton

A journalist with 10 years' experience of working on National newspapers, now chief reporter covering the club that I've loved since I was a boy. Upton Park remains the greatest football stadium ever built.