Pablo Fornals was delighted to be back in action during Monday evening’s first pre-season fixture against Boreham Wood, following an unforgettable summer for the Spaniard.
The Irons made an impressive start to their preparations for the upcoming season at Meadow Park, running out 4-1 winners. First-half goals from Danny Ings and Kamarai Swyer were followed by Jarrod Bowen’s close-range finish and Gideon Kodua’s well-taken effort late on.
The 27-year-old was a lively presence throughout the game and involved in much of the Hammers good attacking play, before making way on 79 minutes, and will be looking to be involved in Australia over the coming week.
West Ham will play A-League outfit Perth Glory at Optus Stadium on Saturday 15 July, before a London derby Down Under against Tottenham Hotspur, again at Optus Stadium, three days later, and tickets are still available for each match.
The midfielder is excited to be involved in the tour.
“It’s going to be a beautiful trip to Australia. It’s a place where most of us haven’t been before and it will be an amazing experience,” Fornals said.
“It’s going to be great to enjoy another continent. We want to compete in the games we play and prepare properly for the start of the season.”
In the first of what will be a busy schedule of pre-season fixtures for David Moyes’ squad, the Hammers were dominant throughout against The Wood.
The manager opted to field a strong first half line-up before introducing some of the club’s talented Academy youngsters in the second half, including a number who featured in last campaign’s FA Youth Cup success.
Fornals continued: “It was a good game. We’ve had a few days of training and then we’re back in a game, which gives us the minutes we need to build on our fitness. It was good to get out there.
“We’ve been back since Thursday and we all came back with a smile. All the lads are pushing each other because we all want to play.”
The return to pre-season action follows a memorable few weeks for Fornals, who followed the victorious UEFA Europa Conference League nighr in Prague with another special celebration.
“It was a summer I would never have dreamt of. It was an unreal month and we finished the season really well, with the final which made each of us so happy and proud. My wedding was beautiful as well, so it was a very good month.”
Despite an unforgettable end to last season that will live long in the memory, the focus for Fornals and his teammates now shifts to preparing for the upcoming season and building on last season’s memorable trophy lift.
He continued: “In football it’s really difficult to think backwards. Everything to come is happening in the future. Everyone is happy and proud with what we did last season but we have to carry on and look forward.
“We want to be as competitive as we can be in all competitions. West Ham is growing and we’ll be playing in Europe for a third season in a row. We have to learn from it and carry on because we want to compete in all four competitions this coming season.”
It will be the start of a fifth season in Claret and Blue for Fornals, and the popular Spaniard is relishing the prospect of another year in east London.
He added: “Every season is special and I have to try and do my best. What I try to do every single day, in every training session and game, is work hard and push hard, and make even more special moments.
“For me it was unreal to join West Ham. I’m heading in to my fifth season here and it means I will have played more professional seasons in England than in Spain, but I’m really happy.”
