Michael Committed

Michael Carrick says his thoughts are "totally with West Ham" - and his major concern is getting fit after his first preseason run out of the summer.

Michael, who is recovering from surgery on a groin problem, came on in the second half of the defeat at Wycombe on Tuesday and he says:

"I am pleased I have come through it and we will see how it goes for Friday.

"I have been concentrating on getting fit and Tuesday was a step in the right direction.

"It is annoying to lose but results don't take too much at this stage of the season; obviously it is nice to get in a winning habit and so far we have been doing well in preseason but I am sure we will bounce back and be ready for Preston."

As for his overall position in the light of the club's relegation, he adds:

"I don't think it is for me to say; I think it is up to the club and how much money they need and stuff.

"My thoughts are totally with West Ham at the moment and I am not thinking anything different; I just need to get fit and get playing again."

A debt of loyalty, perhaps? "You could say that - I am just concentrating on myself and we just have to see what happens after that.

"It hasn't really crossed my mind, to be honest; obviously it is frustrating to be losing our best players but you have just got to get on with it.

"We got us down, I suppose you could say, so we have got to get us back up, but it has been harder having lost all of our best players so everything seems to be against us.

"That was our strongest squad on Tuesday; Lomy was missing and it was mine and Pearcey's first game so that is how thin the squad is.

"So we need to stick together, and we have, to be fair; the lads were first class in Sweden and we might have nicked it against the champions there.

"So all credit to the young boys; they have been brilliant and we have to stick with them because the gaffer hasn't got many options at the moment."