Manuel Lanzini is fighting fit once more and was all smiles after his return coincided with West Ham United’s first Barclays Premier League win in nine.
The Argentine, who was sidelined for little over three weeks with a thigh problem, joined Andy Carroll in leaping off the bench at half-time in Monday’s success over Southampton.
The pair were instrumental in the second-half resurgence that followed and Lanzini insists it won't be long before he is back to his very best.
“I’m very happy on a personal level to come back from injury, which was what I wanted,” he told West Ham TV. “Physically I felt alright, I felt fit. I need more playing time now but I felt very well.
“We knew it was going to be a very difficult game because they were coming here with high expectations after beating Arsenal.
“The first half wasn’t very good for us but thankfully in the second half we got our game going and we turned it around.”
While victory was all important, in whatever form it arrived, Lanzini was pleased as punch for the two goalscorers on the day.
He continued: “It was a bit of a strange goal but he [Michail] deserved it. After the equaliser he gave us power and the will to keep going forward.
“I’m very happy for the second goal because Andy means a lot to this Club. Mainly, we’re all happy that we got back to winning ways because that’s what the whole group wanted.”
With Liverpool set to visit the Boleyn Ground on Saturday, Lanzini can cast his mind back to the Hammers’ unforgettable 3-0 win at Anfield in August.
The midfield maestro needed just three minutes on debut to open his West Ham account in front of the Kop and hopes to a complete a famous double at the weekend.
“We’re going to try and do well again against Liverpool – the main thing is that it goes well for the group because that’s all that matters.”
The Argentine, who was sidelined for little over three weeks with a thigh problem, joined Andy Carroll in leaping off the bench at half-time in Monday’s success over Southampton.
The pair were instrumental in the second-half resurgence that followed and Lanzini insists it won't be long before he is back to his very best.
“I’m very happy on a personal level to come back from injury, which was what I wanted,” he told West Ham TV. “Physically I felt alright, I felt fit. I need more playing time now but I felt very well.
“We knew it was going to be a very difficult game because they were coming here with high expectations after beating Arsenal.
“The first half wasn’t very good for us but thankfully in the second half we got our game going and we turned it around.”
While victory was all important, in whatever form it arrived, Lanzini was pleased as punch for the two goalscorers on the day.
He continued: “It was a bit of a strange goal but he [Michail] deserved it. After the equaliser he gave us power and the will to keep going forward.
“I’m very happy for the second goal because Andy means a lot to this Club. Mainly, we’re all happy that we got back to winning ways because that’s what the whole group wanted.”
With Liverpool set to visit the Boleyn Ground on Saturday, Lanzini can cast his mind back to the Hammers’ unforgettable 3-0 win at Anfield in August.
The midfield maestro needed just three minutes on debut to open his West Ham account in front of the Kop and hopes to a complete a famous double at the weekend.
“We’re going to try and do well again against Liverpool – the main thing is that it goes well for the group because that’s all that matters.”