West Ham get a much needed on-pitch boost ahead of Millwall derby

AWAY from the boardroom media blitz, there’s a welcome return to a focus on the pitch today as West Ham seek another three points and a second successive home win under Nuno. The influx of new players from the last weekend – three in total – have started their integration process and each of Edvin Austbø, Morata and left back Adama Boiro are featured within the club’s training round gallery feature.

Whether any of the trio begin against Derby County, it is true to say Nuno’s options are significantly improved compared with his resources available last time out.

However one of the more significant photos was not of a new signing: With leadership options thin on the ground and the Irons struggling to hold onto leads and points early on this season, the sight of Tomas Soucek back in training was welcome indeed.

Injured in the World Cup and stretchered off, it seems forever since Soucek pulled on a West Ham shirt and the addition of his steadying influence to the dressing room spirit will be a huge uplift. The set-piece takers of Bowen and Engels now look able to deliver high quality corners from both left and right – so you’d not bet against Soucek hitting another bumper crop of goals this season.

Whether or not he starts, having the solid, dependable Czech on the bench as an option going forward as a goal threat in an opponent’s penalty box or (dare we say it) another asset to throw on to see out games, his welcome return adds to the senior voices of leadership that were lacking early in the season.

Scheduled to be match fit for next week’s Millwall game, Soucek , who was one of the first to pledge his future to the Hammers after relegation, will be welcomed back with open arms should he put in an appearance as a substitute for the final few minutes for any of the preceding fixtures.