Byram - I wish we had a game sooner

 

• Sam Byram says Hammers would rather be playing this weekend than on an international break
• West Ham United have not won in their last five Premier League matches
• Byram and company return to action at Hull City on Saturday 1 April

Sam Byram says West Ham United would rather be in action this weekend than in the middle of an international break.

The Hammers went into two-week hiatus in Premier League fixtures on a five-match winless run and having lost their last three at the hands of Chelsea, AFC Bournemouth and Leicester City.

However, with no game this weekend, Byram and company have to wait another week before they can attempt to put things right at Hull City on Saturday 1 April.

“We need to get points on the board so, for me, it’s frustrating to have to wait two weeks until the next game,” the right-back told West Ham TV. “I wish we had one sooner so we could put it right and build on that second half performance [against Leicester].

“We will use the time to get some fitness and organisation work in and we will look towards the next game.

“It’s getting towards the end of the season and teams like Hull need points as well, so no game is easy at this time of the year. We’ll do what we can to make sure we come away with three points.”

We need to get points on the board so, for me, it’s frustrating to have to wait two weeks until the next game

Sam Byram

West Ham have struggled defensively in recent weeks, conceding 17 goals in the eight matches they have played since their last clean sheet – a 3-0 home win over Crystal Palace on 14 January.

Byram has started two of those games – a 4-0 loss to Manchester City in February and last week’s defeat by Leicester, both at London Stadium – but hopes to contribute to a more solid defensive set-up going forward.

Next up is a trip to the KCOM Stadium and a chance to complete a ‘double’ over Hull, who will go into the game sitting inside the relegation zone. It is a game Yorkshire-raised Byram is determined to start on his return to the North East.

“It was over a month between my last two starts and I think I’m a bit rusty, but I think I grew into the Leicester game,” he observed.

“I like to get forward and express myself, obviously there are things I can improve on and I’ll keep working on everything and kick on from there.

“You see the way we play with the two midfielders sitting and the full-backs high and wide and it does suit me down to a tee. I just need to keep going and see where I can help out.”