By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
With West Ham’s players set to return to Rush Green on Monday 6 July for pre-season training, the race to get ready for the campaign is underway.
It seems like very little time has passed since that final Premier League game of the season ended in, ultimately, a futile victory against Leeds United at the London Stadium.
But time, and indeed the Championship it seems, waits for no man.
More importantly, Nuno Espírito Santo is looking forward to welcoming his players back in just nine days’ time.
Still Plenty To Do
At this stage, the Hammers still feel woefully underprepared, with no permanent backroom team in place and the recruitment structure still waiting to be rubber-stamped.
That said, I don’t believe it’s all doom and gloom because West Ham are not going to have the sort of mass exodus of players that was predicted immediately after relegation.
Granted, those involved in the World Cup won’t return at the same time.
But it still gives Nuno the opportunity to work with the likes of Taty Castellanos, Jarrod Bowen, Mohamadou Kante, Soungoutou Magassa, Mads Hermansen and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Nuno Can’t Wait To Get Started
Speaking to WHUFC.com, Nuno said:
“We are looking forward to returning to Rush Green, ready to work hard, show our character and commitment, and to be fully prepared to start our mission.
“We have the Portsmouth game, a tough trip to Burnley on the opening weekend of the league season, and then a London derby against Charlton back at home. We can’t wait to be back together again at London Stadium.”
Hit The Ground Running
With a limited pre-season programme and a long Championship campaign ahead, it is imperative that Nuno and the boys hit the ground running.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if, over the next nine days, we see some additions to that backroom team as West Ham step up their preparations for the new season.