Marcus Browne described Monday’s 4-0 away win at Everton as one of his best days in football as he scored all of the Hammers’ goals in Premier League 2.
The skipper was in scintillating form on Merseyside, too hot for the Toffees to handle, and as skipper led from the front by increasing his tally of goals to six for the season.
Browne had bagged the winner in a 1-0 win at Manchester City with a terrific 25-yard free-kick four days earlier, and explained that gave him the confidence to play so well against Everton at their Southport FC home.
After the four-goal haul, the beaming captain said: “It’s definitely up there with one of my better days in football! I don’t think you go into any game thinking you’re going to score four goals, but I scored four and I’m delighted.
“It’s been a difficult week with two games in five days and we’ve got through it. I think the goal on Thursday gave me a bit more confidence going into today’s game and I feel like I’m playing with confidence and got four goals because of it.
“It was massive performance from the boys all round. We really dug in and stuck to the game plan and any game away from home that you win 4-0 in, it’s always massive.
“I’m obviously delighted to have scored all four goals.”
It’s definitely up there with one of my better days in football! I don’t think you go into any game thinking you’re going to score four so I’m delighted
Marcus Browne
Browne had a tough start to the campaign, unavailable through a series of knee and back injuries.
But coming back to full fitness, the 20-year-old has shown his quality, scoring against Tottenham Hotspur in a London derby and generally impressing for the U23 squad.
About his comeback, Browne continued: “It wasn’t easy being out for so long but the first couple of games back are where you’re getting back into it and you’re lacking a bit of fitness.
“You feel like you’re off the pace a bit and you’ve dropped down a few levels and you’re behind the boys.
“But I feel like I’ve built myself up and I’m good fitness-wise now and I’m getting confidence in the last few games, getting back into it. I feel like I’ve got my touch back and I’m ready and firing.
“I think the aim for us is to get in the top six now and that’s where we need to be and that’s where we’re heading.
“[As captain], I feel like I am a natural leader in the team anyway so [being captain] I feel comes quite naturally for me.
“I just try to look after the boys as best as I can, get everyone level headed and I know that we have to work hard week-in, week-out and perform to our best to get results like we did today.”