HAMMERS new signing Gavin Williams insists that he is not daunted by the step up to Championship level and is looking forward to the challenge of establishing himself in the West Ham United first-team.
Signed from League Two high-flyers Yeovil Town for £250,000, Gavin is an attacking midfielder of some potential. He made a clean sweep of the Player of the Year awards at Yeovil and can operate on either flank to provide high-class competition to Hammers wingers Luke Chadwick and Matty Etheringthon.
"Stepping up to the Championship holds no fear for me," insisted the 24-year-old Welshman. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of testing myself in this division and I'm confident that I can do well for West Ham United.
"Of course, the Championship will have a little more pace
than I'm used to, but you only get used to those differences by
playing and I'm sure I'll adjust quickly.
"Right now I just want to do well in training, show the
management at West Ham what I can do and then hopefully start to
force my way into the first-team."
However, Gavin will have to wait another week before he is actually eligible for first-team duty after being sent off playing for Yeovil against Lincoln City. He serves the last game of a three-match suspension at the Leeds game and will be available for next week's trip to Preston. The match can't come soon enough.
"It's disappointing to be suspended for tomorrow's game," he confessed. "I can't wait to start playing for West Ham and the Leeds game will be massive under the floodlights at Upton Park.
"But I'm training with the lads, getting used to the new surroundings and easing my way into life at the Club. "In a way, although it isn't nice to be out suspended, at least I have time to get used to the routines at the Club before jumping into first-team action. This way, I've got time to understand what the coaching staff want and get used to the new players before I actually start playing. Hopefully that extra time will benefit me when I do make my debut."
That could come at Preston, or in the Hammers next home game against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day. Having toured the Boleyn Ground already, Gavin can't wait to take his home bow in front of the Upton Park faithful. "It's a fantastic stadium," he admitted, "and I'm really looking forward to playing at Upton Park for the first time.
"I've got a lot of friends who are West Ham fans and
everyone is really excited about me being involved in a game at
Upton Park. It should be a great occasion."
The level-headed midfielder did admit that the news of Alan
Pardew's interest came as something of a shock.
"The transfer came about incredibly quickly," he confessed. "One day I was out training and when I came in somebody told me that the manager wanted to see me. I went into his office, he told me that West Ham were interested and the next thing I new I has signed.
"It was a fantastic opportunity, and although it was tough to leave Yeovil, I really jumped at the chance to come to Upton Park." The Merthyr Tydfill born midfielder is settling in quickly to life in East London. He's already well-acquainted with his new teammates in training, and has even found a house for his young family.
"I wanted to find somewhere fast because of my girlfriend and our little lad," he said. "My family are very important to me and I wanted to make sure that they were settled. It's a nice place and I think we'll be happy there.
"It's gone well in training so far. There's
obviously some excellent players here, but they're a good bunch
of lads as well and everyone has made me feel welcome.
"Now I just want to get my head down, hopefully make an
impression on the coaches and start to show the players and fans
here what I can do."