While David Moyes may not have addressed the media ahead of tonight's Carabao Cup tie at Lincoln, Conor Coventry had plenty to say about the club where he spent time on loan three seasons ago.
The midfielder could be in line to make a rare start for the Hammers tonight when they face the League One side at the stadium formerly known as Sincil Bank. And it is a prospect that he is keenly anticipating."Hopefully I can get some minutes," he told whufc.com. "I’m hoping to play and we’ll see what happens.
"Our schedule until the next international break is jam packed with games every few days, so we know everybody is going to be needed. I know with the way the boys have been training everyone will be ready as well and hopefully everyone gets a chance."
And talking about his experience at Sincil Bank, which included seven first team appearances, Coventry admitted that he will be pleased to be able to see some familiar faces when he returns to the club later today.
"It was a great experience for me at Lincoln," he said. "It was my first loan, my first experience of real first team football. I wasn’t there too long because of COVID, but I really enjoyed it.
"It’s a good club with a really good following and fanbase, with good people there who made me feel welcome and helped me out. I was just sort of adapting and had put a run of games together, so I sort of felt like I was finding my way and was hoping to kick on there until the end of the season, so it was a little bit frustrating that COVID cut it short, but I learned a lot there about myself in general.
"It was my first taste of league games and playing in front of fans, so looking back I took a lot from it. I know a few of the boys there and they have some really talented players. I know the way they want to play is in a good style and it will be a tough game. They’ve had a good start to the season so it should be a good test."
Also in line to make the 18-man squad is Academy striker Callum Marshall, who has been in prolific form for the Academy during the opening two months of the 2023/24 season.
The match will be officiated by Josh Smith who is supported by Assistant Referees Edward Smart and Nick Greenhalgh. The Fourth Official will be Leigh Doughty. Although the match is not being broadcast live on UK-based TV stations, 5 Sports Extra will be carrying live commentary.
* The fourth round draw for the Carabao Cup, in which West Ham will hope to be involved will take place immediately after the Newcastle United v Manchester City tie has ended.
The ball numbers for each team remaining in the competition are as follows:
1 Burnley
2 Exeter City
3 Ipswich Town
4 Manchester United
5 Mansfield Town
6 Middlesbrough
7 Port Vale
8 AFC Bournemouth or Stoke City
9 Aston Villa or Everton
10 Blackburn Rovers or Cardiff City
11 Brentford or Arsenal
12 Chelsea or Brighton & Hove Albion
13 Fulham or Norwich City
14 Lincoln City or West Ham United
15 Liverpool or Leicester City
16 Newcastle United or Manchester City
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