Downes on the up

Wally Downes has told West Ham TV a strong squad will be key to getting West Ham United promoted this season and expects the club to hit the ground running in the npower Championship.

The first-team coach emphasised the need for a collective desire to get the job done, and expects the story of the season to be about the team and not the individual.

Speaking to the club's exclusive online TV service, Downes said: "This season it is going to be about how strong and how supportive the squad is.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR DOWNES ON KEVIN NOLAN AND THE SUMMER SO FAR

"It is not about the eleven players or the 18 players, it is about 20 or even 30 players because of the amount of games we are going to play, it will be about 50-60 games a season on a regular basis. "Players have to be ready to come into a successful side and perform to the level of whoever they are replacing."