Carl Jenkinson was delighted to be back in a claret and blue shirt on Tuesday as West Ham United continued their preparation for the new Barclays Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over one of their league rivals, Norwich City.
The Carrow Road clash was Jenkinson's first run-out since rejoining the Hammers on loan from Arsenal and he is looking forward to continuing from where he left off last term.
Since his last game for the Hammers, at Newcastle in May, a new manager and eight new players have all come in so the 23-year-old says these are exciting times.
"It was great to be back on the pitch on Tuesday - I loved every minute of it," he beamed.
"I was looking forward to it all day to be fair, I just wanted to get back playing football as I've missed it.
"Even after just a couple of weeks off you start to miss it and it's nice to be back in front of our away following, which is always great. I really enjoyed it.
"There have been a lot of changes, but the change is for the positive. You look at the players who have been brought in and they are fantastic players.
"There's a lot of reason to be optimistic for the season because I think we're shaping up really well."
The Carrow Road clash was Jenkinson's first run-out since rejoining the Hammers on loan from Arsenal and he is looking forward to continuing from where he left off last term.
Since his last game for the Hammers, at Newcastle in May, a new manager and eight new players have all come in so the 23-year-old says these are exciting times.
"It was great to be back on the pitch on Tuesday - I loved every minute of it," he beamed.
"I was looking forward to it all day to be fair, I just wanted to get back playing football as I've missed it.
"Even after just a couple of weeks off you start to miss it and it's nice to be back in front of our away following, which is always great. I really enjoyed it.
"There have been a lot of changes, but the change is for the positive. You look at the players who have been brought in and they are fantastic players.
"There's a lot of reason to be optimistic for the season because I think we're shaping up really well."
Tuesday's victory came courtesy of an 82nd minute Harry Toffolo own goal, which arrived on the back of a strong spell of positive West Ham play.
The one-touch passing and movement posed several problems for the hosts and Jenkinson says that was a positive sign.
"We did well on Tuesday," he continued. "We were solid at the back throughout the game and in the second half we really pushed on.
"We really took a stranglehold on the game in the last 20 to 30 minutes and we got the goal we deserved.
"Attacking-wise we're looking exceptional. Dimi [Payet], who's come in, looks very good and I think he's going to link up play between the forward and the midfielders well this year. The other boys look sharp too.
"It's nice - we'll be playing Norwich again in a few weeks time so it's nice to get one up on them before we play them."
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The one-touch passing and movement posed several problems for the hosts and Jenkinson says that was a positive sign.
"We did well on Tuesday," he continued. "We were solid at the back throughout the game and in the second half we really pushed on.
"We really took a stranglehold on the game in the last 20 to 30 minutes and we got the goal we deserved.
"Attacking-wise we're looking exceptional. Dimi [Payet], who's come in, looks very good and I think he's going to link up play between the forward and the midfielders well this year. The other boys look sharp too.
"It's nice - we'll be playing Norwich again in a few weeks time so it's nice to get one up on them before we play them."
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