As someone who has played over 400 senior matches for club and country, Callum Wilson knows the best way to build confidence is to put together a succession of positive results.
The striker played an integral role in West Ham United’s 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest before the September international window, scoring his first goal for the Club with an unstoppable header and pulling the opposing defence all over the place with his intelligent movement and elusive footwork.
That win was the Hammers’ first of the Premier League season and provided a welcome boost in morale and confidence.
However, Wilson says the Irons must back their fine performance and result at the City Ground up when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace to London Stadium for back-to-back derbies over the next two weekends. Tickets for both games are available HERE.
“I think a good performance is only a good performance if you build on it and that's how you then get into form,” he explained. “That's how you create good habits. So I think for us as a team, we've had an international break, time to reflect on what's gone well so far, and what's gone badly so far.
“We’ve had players go away [with their national teams], and the other players have had a few days off, so it's a good mental refresh. We all come back together again and then we all get ready to fight again.
“Ultimately, no game is easy in the Premier League and derbies especially are even spicier so, as players, you're looking forward to it. Myself personally, I'm looking forward to it, too.”
The No9 has enjoyed personal success against both in the past, scoring seven goals and registering four assists in 27 combined appearances against Spurs and the Eagles.
Wilson has previously scored in Premier League victories over both for his former club Newcastle United and, as he takes aim at netting the eleven goals he needs to reach 100 in the top-flight, he would love to do so again in the next week or so.
“You play against clubs and people that you've played against before a lot in the Premier League,” he continued. “For me as a player, having played in the Premier League for so long, when you're going into games against most teams now, you have that memory of scoring against them previously and scoring against this defender or that goalkeeper, so it gives you that extra five or ten per cent confidence.
“For me now, the key now is to get a run in the team and to get goals. That’s my job and that’s what I’m known for and hopefully what I’ll continue to do.”
