West Ham youngster Reece Burke says he is keen to impress after returning to West Ham for pre-season training.
The 20-year-old has been training with the first team over the past week after manager Slaven Bilic posted plans of a season-long loan move for the young defender and is now looking to impress the manager.
Speaking on whufc.com, Burke said: “I’m buzzing to be here, I was going to go on loan, but that has been put on hold as the manager has told me he wants me to do pre-season here with the first team, so it’s a good opportunity for me to get back in with the lads, as I’ve been away for a while now.
“I need to stay fit and have a good pre-season here, that’s my target.”
Burke spent last season on-loan with Wigan Athletic, however was restricted to only 10 games through an injury to his hip. Now fit again, the Englishman hopes to pick up where he left off at the club before leaving at the end of the 2014/15 season in which he started five Premier League games, partnering James Collins at the heart of the Hammers’ defence.
“It’s good to be back here because there are quite a few good centre-halves here and I want to learn off them.” he added.
“They are top players and top centre-halves and I’m looking forward to being around them in pre-season. When I did play in the Premier League, I played alongside Ginge and it’s crazy how much playing alongside an experienced centre-half can help you. I learned a lot in those five games.”
