Hammers striker Ashley Fletcher says he is looking to repeat his feat of last summer in which he scored in both of the club’s pre-season games in Austria.
Fletcher, who had just arrived from Manchester United on a free transfers, got off to a flying start in Claret and Blue last year as he bagged against both FC Slovacko and Karlsruhe SC during the Hammers stint in Austria.
The 21-year-old is hoping he can repeat history this year as he looks to prove his worth to manager Slaven Bilic amidst speculation of the arrival of a big money striker at the London Stadium, as well as rumours of his own departure to newly promoted Huddersfield Town.
Speaking on the club’s official website, Fletcher said: “It was the same last year, as everyone was saying we need a £20m striker but they are hard to come by, it’s not easy to go out and find a player who can score goals regularly in the Premier League, especially those who come in from abroad.
“As a young player making my way through, if I am given an opportunity and a run in the team, I think that can only benefit me.”
Despite the rumours regarding his future, Fletcher is very much looking ahead to next season and hopes he can break into the first team more regularly.
“I look at Marcus Rashford, for example, who has taken his chance and stayed in the team and he’s probably now one of the best strikers in England,” the 21-year-old observed. “The same can be said for Harry Kane as well.
“There aren’t many young English strikers playing in the Premier League, so hopefully this season I can get even more game-time, as my ambitions are to play and do well for this massive Club.
“Last season was a learning year for me, so I’ve been away and worked on getting fitter and stronger over the summer as I want to come back firing in pre-season.”
West Ham begin pre-season on July 15th before flying out to Austria, Germany and Iceland.
