Summer signing number seven Diafra Sakho feels his five years spent with FC Metz were the perfect grounding for the challenge that awaits in the Barclays Premier League with West Ham United.
Playing a pivotal part in back-to-back promotions, the 24-year-old weighed in with 39 league goals across the two campaigns and is now desperate to prove his pedigree in England.
Just how soon he will first feature remains to be seen, but having long dreamt of this moment, Sakho is itching to make his mark in Claret and Blue.
"I'm confident, that's for sure," he told West Ham TV. "This move has been two years in the making. English football is an altogether different story, but I'm going to try to slog it out to score goals here for West Ham as well.
"I prepared for this all of last season with Metz and following that I think I'm ready. Beyond that, it's not for me to decide, but we'll see what the manager decides to do with me in the coming weeks.
"I spoke to Sam last Friday. We discussed a little bit his philosophy on the game and what he expects of his players. I am going to give my all to fight for the Club until the end."
The addition of Sakho completes West Ham's triumvirate of Senegal internationals, with Mohamed Diame and Cheikhou Kouyate already among the Hammers' ranks. As he explores his new Club and gets to grips with the language, the 6' striker is glad of the familiar faces.
"To have them by my side will give me an added incentive and, like them, I'm going to try to give my all for the Club," he confirmed.
"In the last few weeks I've begun to discover more about the Club. I've not yet finished learning and I'll be taking English lessons too. That way it will become easier for me to express myself."
Indeed, Sakho will certainly need to to master the language if he is to see out his four-year deal and he already hopes that his east London stay will last long into West Ham's tenure at the former Olympic Stadium.
"It's a project that inspires everyone," he added. "We've already spoken about it and I also hope to be here for the duration."
As for the fans, Sakho's appeal was a simple one, namely to keep doing what they've done so well for so long.
He concluded: "Continue to support us as you've always done and we, for our part, will continue to give everything out on the pitch."
Related stories