James Ward-Prowse is eyeing a positive performance and result when West Ham United contest their second Premier League Summer Series clash against Everton at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Wednesday evening (5.30pm CDT, 11.30pm BST).
The Hammers have arrived in the second of three cities on their tour of the USA, following six nights in New Jersey that saw them narrowly fall to Manchester United in their competition opener at MetLife Stadium on Saturday.
Tickets for the Everton game, as well as West Ham's final Summer Series outing against AFC Bournemouth in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday, remain on General Sale HERE, with supporters able to save 20% on select seats by using the code PLSS20.
Ward-Prowse completed 80 minutes of the Red Devils encounter and insists he is ready to go again in what promises to be an exhilarating occasion at the home of the Chicago Bears NFL side, against familiar opposition managed by his former West Ham boss, David Moyes.
Having been part of the squad that visited Florida last summer, our No8 is once again enjoying immersing himself in the American culture, and engaging with football fans at games and off-field events.
He is also buoyed by the strong bond that is developing among the squad, and is confident there is plenty to be positive about with the clock ultimately ticking towards the big Premier League kick-off in mid-August.
It’s been an exciting competition so far, and the game against Everton is an exciting occasion.
I think because we’re playing other Premier League teams, there’s that extra competitiveness - you know the teams and the players well, so there’s almost the intensity we’re used to during the normal season.
It was hot against Manchester United in New Jersey, but I think we coped with that well and took another positive step forward in our preparations for the new campaign.
Now we want to put all our good work so far into practice when we’re back out there on Wednesday, and hopefully we can continue moving forward and win the game at the same time.
Pre-season so far has been really productive and enjoyable, and I think we’re in a good place as a team.
I think the physical demands of the Premier League now require you to stay constantly fit, so players do tend to come back from the off-season in good shape.
We're advised very well on the balancing act of ensuring that we enjoy our holidays and switch off physically and mentally, but also make sure that when we come back we're ready to go.
Since we’ve come back, we’ve taken gradual steps on the pitch, and while we’ve been here in the US, we’ve made more progress towards where we need to be when the Premier League starts in a few weeks.
Trips like this are also great for building friendship and trust off the field, and that’s something I try to help lead on in training. In that aspect, I think we’re in a strong place too.
Being able to travel around the US is a pleasure, and it’s good to be able to connect with fans and see a different side of football.
The level of support hasn’t necessarily surprised me, because I saw it when we were in Florida last summer, but our perception is that football continues to grow in the US, which is great.
To be able to travel around the world and see the great support that the Club's got is inspiring for us. It almost ensures that we realise the enormity of the Club and how much it means to not just people in east London, but across the globe. It's a really positive experience for all of us as players.
