Moses Makasi is hoping to take his first team pre-season experiences into Tuesday night’s Checkatrade Trophy clash and be the Hammers’ leader against Swindon Town.
The midfielder was handed the captain’s armband on Friday night when Terry Westley’s men kicked-off their Premier League 2 campaign with a goalless draw against last season’s champions Everton.
And the 21-year-old believes, as one of the senior heads in the Club’s U23s, he can lead by example this season, starting with a trip to the County Ground on Tuesday.
He said: “There is a responsibility to be the experienced player in this team for me, as we have a young team. The likes of Conor [Coventry] alongside me is young, and then Aji [Alese] came into the team too on Friday.
“I’m a senior player, I’ve got to show them how U23s football is played and be a leader out there.
“Pre-season with the first team was good for me because I got a lot of minutes in the side. I got experience with the team so I’ve come back down now and I’ve got to show that I’m one of the older lads and try and lead the younger players.
“I’ve got to show them what I’ve learnt with the first team and also for myself, try and kick on and get back into that squad.
“I think that experience this summer will definitely help with these matches against senior teams in the Checkatrade Trophy. There are different scenarios that happen in senior games so hopefully that gives the ones that have had that experience an edge in these games.”
I’ve come back down now and I’ve got to show that I’m one of the older lads and try and lead the younger players
Moses Makasi
West Ham came third in Group D of last season’s competition, having lost their opening ties against Coventry City and Wycombe Wanderers – who will again be an opponent this season.
They bounced back with a 1-1 draw and subsequent penalty shootout victory at Northampton Town and this season have Swindon and Bristol Rovers – as well as the Chairboys – to contend with.
And having faced League Two outfits Barnet and Colchester United in pre-season friendlies, Makasi thinks the team are well prepared.
“The lads faced those two League Two teams, and this will be a similar test, so that will help the boys going into the game and hopefully that will get us a good head start in the Group,” he continued.
“I thought we played well on Friday [against Everton] and we have got to go again and get off to a good start.
“Our former player Kyle Knoyle plays for them, too, so we’re looking forward to that. It will be good to see Kyle – he’s a great lad and I always played alongside him throughout the youth ranks at West Ham, so it will be good to see him again.”