- Young striker Sam Ford has goals on the mind ahead of Wednesday’s Dev Squad match
- The side face PEC Zwolle – a Dutch top division outfit – in a pre-season friendly
- Training in the Netherlands has been good for the squad, Ford explains
West Ham United’s Development Squad face Dutch team PEC Zwolle – an Eredivisie side who finished eighth last season – on Wednesday as part of their trip to Holland.
And Ford, who signed for the Club last campaign from Ipswich Town, has his eyes firmly set on the task in hand.
“Scoring goals is obviously what is going to win us the game,” he said. “That’s the main objective. It helps, of course, but also whatever I can do to help the team and be beneficial is good, too.
“All the boys are excited for the game. It’s what we’ve come for. We got to train yesterday and train today, and did a little gym session, but everyone’s excited to get on the pitch and show what we can do.
“We’ve heard [Zwolle] are a good team and hopefully it’s a good battle, but we hope we can step our game up and be just as good as them and hopefully win.”
The youngsters have been working hard in the Dutch heat and are staking their individual claims for starting spots when the competitive campaign begins.
And 18-year-old Ford is keen to impress while under the watchful eye of Academy Director and Dev Squad boss Terry Westley.
“We’ve been told that the pressure is on to be in the team for the starting game of the season, and time is ticking for the end of pre-season to get into that team,” he continued.
“There is a little bit of pressure on us but some of the boys just get on with it and train and express ourselves to show what we can do.
“Training sessions have been hard because it has been hot, but I don’t think I have done too badly. Hopefully I can get in the team and play on Wednesday and Saturday.”