Jenko - 'I can get going straight away'

Carl Jenkinson is fit and ready to make his first appearance for West Ham United.

The England international right-back, who arrived on loan from Arsenal on Thursday evening, started both of the Gunners' pre-season matches at Borehamwood and New York Red Bulls prior to his loan switch to east London.

The 22-year-old trained with his new Hammers team-mates for the first time on Friday morning before the squad flew to Germany for this weekend's Schalke 04 Cup in Gelsenkirchen.

Jenkinson would love to make his first appearance in Claret and Blue when they take on the host club at the Veltins-Arena on Saturday and Malaga CF on Sunday.

"I'm coming into a new club and first and foremost I want to make a good impression on the Gaffer, the players and everyone at the club," he said.

"I've played in two friendlies with Arsenal and I've got a few games to go to play my football before the season starts.

"The first thing you want to do when you come into a club is to play and express yourself. We've got a game on Saturday, so hopefully I can get going straight away."

The youngster has spent the past three seasons honing his game as an attacking full-back under the guidance of Arsene Wenger. He is keen to put everything he has learnt there to good use for his new club.

Having netted his maiden senior goal for Arsenal against Norwich City in their final Barclays Premier League game of last season, Jenkinson is also eager to find the net again in West Ham colours.

"I spoke to the Gaffer about how he sees me playing in this team and that was important for me because I want to be able to express myself and get up and down," he explained.

"I've learnt to play how Arsenal play over the last three years and I am a very attacking full-back. I like to get up and down and I know I'm going to have the opportunity to do that here as well.

"Fingers crossed I'll get a few more goals this season, too.

"Hopefully I can play my game here. It's a great opportunity and I just want to come here, improve the team, express myself and play football. I've missed that at some stages over the last three years where I haven't played as regularly as I'd have liked.

"Hopefully it'll be a great year for me and it's one I'm really looking forward to."

Looking forward to the opening Barclays Premier League fixture of the season on 16 August and a smile appeared on Jenkinson's face when the opposition was mentioned.

A childhood Arsenal fan born in Essex, the defender is acutely aware of the importance of facing Tottenham Hotspur!

"It's a fantastic opener. I looked at the fixtures and I thought 'It doesn't get much better than that'.

"Last season, West Ham had a fantastic record against them and I'm here and we have them again in a fantastic first game of the season, so hopefully we can continue that run from where it left off last season."