Pre-season training may be hard work, but Freddie Sears is relishing the challenge of getting himself fit for the 2011/12 campaign.

The homegrown Hammer impressed during the latter half of last season, catching the eye with a succession of confident performances on the right side of midfield or a three-man attack.

Now 21, Sears is ready to kick-on again and make his mark in the npower Championship under new manager Sam Allardyce. He headed out with the rest of the squad - including two triallists, the versatile Irish international Joey O'Brien and Brazilian-born defender Hernani da Rosa - to Switzerland on Friday full of confidence of making an impression in pre-season.

"It's been good," he told West Ham TV. "Obviously it's not the thing you look forward to coming back and doing but you know you have got to do it and get it done and it will come in handy later in the season.

"Most people go away in the summer and do a bit of work and have come in and the boys look quite sharp, to be fair.

"We've done a lot of running and now we're just itching to get into the football games now, really."

Sears is one of a 25-man squad involved in the week-long pre-season training camp in Switzerland.

The trip will see the players put through their paces during a series of strenuous sessions before the action gets under way with the Uhren Cup competition on Monday, when the Hammers face Swiss Super League champions FC Basel.

Then, on Wednesday, West Ham take on UEFA Europa League qualifiers BSC Young Boys. Sears is naturally looking forward to both fixtures.

"Everyone is looking forward to the trip and everyone is ready for the two games," he added.

"Spirit has been very good. The new gaffer has come in and there is a new lease of life around the place. Everyone wants to impress him and show him what they can do."

To hear Sears' interview in full, including the arrival of assistant manager Neil McDonald and new signings Kevin Nolan and Abdoulaye Faye, the team spirit already building in the squad and the importance of the supporters, log on to West Ham TV now.