Fletch Enjoys Top-flight Taste

HAVING bided his time on the sidelines this season, as well as taking in a loan spell at Watford, Carl Fletcher announced his arrival on the Premiership stage with a performance brimming full of energy and determination in the 2-1 win over Everton.

The Wales midfielder came in to make his first appearance in the claret and blue at Goodison Park, and it was quite a top-flight debut, as the 25-year-old stoked the Hammers engine room in one of their best performances of the season.

Now, after a slow start to the season, Fletch is hoping he can establish himself as a proven Premier League performer with the Hammers.

"Obviously it's been a bit frustrating this season," he admitted. "Not being on the bench  and watching from the stands is never nice for any player.

"But the gaffer through myself and Ginge (James Collins) in against Everton and we managed to link up well with the rest of the lads and put on a good show.

"Not just us, but the whole squad deserves credit for the result and it was just nice to be part of it and get out there and play.

"Everyone feels part of the squad here. We couldn't achieve what we have done this season without being a really tight-knit squad.

"The lads that started the season did well. But we've got players throughout the squad who are hungry to play, and with the tough schedule we have coming up it's going to be important.

"Between Boxing Day and New Year we've got three games in a week, and that's the time where the squad is really going to be important.

"It's a tough time, but with the quality we've got in the squad hopefully we can continue our strong form and keep doing well."

Fletch was delighted to be part of a winning side in his first outing of the season for Hammers, and explained that the win over Everton was a huge boost coming off the back of an unfortunate defeat at Ewood Park against Blackburn.

"Everton was a great result and a really strong team performance," he said. "It was especially good to come from behind in the manner that we did and come away with the three points.

"It showed a lot of character to go to a place like Goodison Park and play the way we did, and it will give the boys a lot of confidence going into Saturday's game against Newcastle.

"After losing at Blackburn we were all delighted to get a win on the board straight after. In this League it's very easy to slip onto a losing run, and you want to make sure that you are consistently picking up points.

"Fortunately we've managed to do that this season and again it shows the spirit and determination we have in the camp to come out after a defeat and turn in a good performance.

"Now we just need to keep believing in what we are doing and make sure we keep picking up points throughout the Christmas and New Year period."

Fletch will now hope to keep his place in centre-midfield for the visit of Newcastle to Upton Park on Saturday, his first taste of Premier League football at the Boleyn Ground. And the Wales international is determined to enjoy it.

"Whatever the occasion, there aren't many people who can say that they have played in the Premier League and the most important thing for me is to go out there and enjoy it," he said.

"That's what we've done this season. If you enjoy yourself you play better and we'll keep doing that, keep working hard on the training pitch and hopefully the points will continue to come."