Cullen - I want to be around the first team

  • Young midfielder Josh Cullen is keen to kick on next season
  • The 20-year-old was speaking at the Club’s new Store opening
  • The layout and design of the new outlet as well as all the brand new merchandise got his stamp of approval
Hammers midfielder Josh Cullen says his ambitions for next season must be to be in and around the first team squad following a terrific spell on loan at Bradford City last campaign.
 
The 20-year-old, speaking at the opening of the new Stadium Store on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, spent the final four months of last term in Yorkshire and helped the Bantams achieve a play-off spot in League One.
 
And though Phil Parkinson’s men were beaten over two legs in the third tier semi-finals, Cullen impressed and now has objectives within Slaven Bilic’s side.
 
He said: “The aim is to be in and around the first team squad. I was on the bench a few times last year and now it’s time to kick on with a good loan spell under my belt.
 
“I need to make sure I try and cement my place in it. I enjoyed my time on loan at Bradford and it helped me gain experience and learn more about the game.
 
“It was my first time away from West Ham and I think that’s helped me grow up as a player. Now I’m just looking forward to getting back to West Ham and kicking on and trying to make an impression during pre-season.”
Cullen, wearing the Hammers’ new away strip for the 2016/17 campaign, was impressed with the setup at the new Store on the opening day which was attended by hundreds of excited supporters.
 
“The design and everything about the shop is quality,” he continued. “It’s fitting for the type of Stadium we have got now.
 
“It is kitted out with loads of stuff for all the fans and it’s good to see so many here coming to get their shirts and coming to the opening to be the first to get their stuff.

“The commitment shown sums up West Ham fans in general really. The passion they’ve got for the Club is second to none.
 
“The new away kit is nice. It’s nice and simple and I think that’s the best thing about it. It looks good and hopefully we can do it justice this season and put in some good away performances.”
 
Cullen, a Republic of Ireland U21 international, has been keeping track of Darren Randolph’s performances at UEFA Euro 2016, as well as the other three Hammers involved in the tournament and hopes they can fly the West Ham flag as far as possible in the knockout stages.
 
“All the lads that are out at the Euros have qualified. Ginge [James Collins] and Angelo [Ogbonna] have for Wales and Italy respectively [as well as Dimitri Payet and Darren Randolph].
 
“Payet is lighting the tournament up so far and hopefully he can keep that going and all the lads can do well progressing further in the tournament. They’ve all done West Ham proud.”