- West Ham United PL2 face Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium on Tuesday in the Checkatrade Trophy
- It is the last of the Hammers’ matches in this year’s competition as they cannot qualify from Southern Group D
- Terry Westley believes the number of games being played this year is a benefit to his young players
Terry Westley has praised the games programme for his U23 players this year as the Hammers prepare for their final Checkatrade Trophy match of the season.
They face Northampton Town at Sixfields Stadium on Tuesday night (7.45pm) on the back of two successive wins in all competitions.
The Hammers beat West Bromwich Albion last Monday in Premier League 2 and kept up their 100% record in the Premier League Cup after defeating Nottingham Forest 2-1 on Friday.
Their packed schedule continues on Tuesday against the Cobblers before they enter the final international break before Christmas.
“It’s a good games programme this year and the Premier League should be congratulated for that,” said Westley.
“We’re not going months without a game, there’s regular football as there is with first team football. You are preparing these (players) to either go out on loan or to play in your first team.
“If you’re on loan in the Championship, you’ll be playing Tuesday/Saturday and you have to be able to perform at that level.”
The Hammers’ opponents on Tuesday are sixth in Sky Bet League One having been promoted last season. They were unbeaten in 31 matches up until mid-September when Chesterfield beat them 3-1.
Since then, they’ve lost three of their last eight matches, but still lie just inside the play-offs on goal difference.
The Hammers go into the contest lying third in Premier League 2 Division 2 after beating West Brom last week.
Goals from Jahmal Hector-Ingram and Marcus Browne helped them to a victory over Forest in the Premier League Cup three days later, and they sit top of Group E after two fixtures.
Both West Ham and Northampton cannot qualify from Southern Group D of the Checkatrade Trophy this season as they both lost their opening two fixtures.
Tickets for the match at Sixfields are on sale at www.ntfcdirect.co.uk. They are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for under 18s.