West Ham United star Aaron Cresswell believes he is returning to somewhere near his best.
West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell in action
Hammers left-back Aaron Cresswell spoke to the club’s official website about his struggles for form and fitness so far this season, and highlighted how important it is for a player to get a full pre-season under his belt – something that he was deprived of after suffering a serious knee injury during the early stages of the Europe League in the summer.
The 26-year-old has been well off the pace for West Ham this season, and has found himself to be the target of heavy criticism for failing to replicate the kind of performances that saw him championed for an England call-up last term.
And the Liverpool-born defender explained why this season has proven to be so difficult, on a personal level, but insisted he now feels 100 per cent ready to reach the levels he reached last year on a consistent basis, when speaking to WHUFC.com:
“Pre-season is the foundation for your season, so to be out for three or four months with a knee injury was never easy, and it was the first time in my career that I’d had a serious injury and been out for quite some time. All I could do, as I say, was get my head down and give 100 per cent and now I feel fine. I have felt fine physically for a long time, but missing pre-season and a few months was not easy. That’s football, so you’ve got to learn to deal with it and get on with it.”
Aaron Cresswell
West Ham will now be looking to finish the season strongly, and haven’t entirely given up hope of finishing inside the top seven, although they have their work cut-out if they are to achieve that, with 11 points separating themselves and seventh placed Everton.
But Cresswell would certainly help matters, if he could find a way of returning to his absolute best.
West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell in action
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