Lewis Page completed his first 90 minutes since returning from injury on Saturday
Nineteen-year-old defender Lewis Page said he is delighted to be back in action after recovering from a lengthy injury sustained in the Hammers’ Europa League tie in Romania.
Page completed his first 90 minutes in a friendly against AFC Hornchurch, a 1-0 win, on the weekend after being side-lined by a rash challenge sustained in the first-half against Astra Giurgiu.
Having come through his first full game on Saturday unscathed, Page said: “It’s been about nine weeks since the game in Romania; I was out for seven weeks, I’ve been in training for two weeks.
“I’ve been involved in two games now, so it’s good to get minutes up. I was struggling at first and was getting pretty out of breath but I can feel my fitness coming back. I’m about 80% there.”
The left-back enjoyed a fantastic breakthrough pre-season, making his first-team debut against FC Lusitans before impressing in the return leg and away in Romania.
Reflecting on his Hammers’ debut, he beamed: “I’ve got only good memories from pre-season; making my debut was definitely the best thing I’ve done in football. The experience of it was great, then the other first team games in Andorra and Romania was also positive.
“I just want to get back to the level I was at then; the injury came at possible the worst time possible. I was making progress and beginning to show what I can do; hopefully I can get back to that level, if not better.”
After the international break, the Development Squad host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday 19 October at Rush Green, a game Page is aiming to make his first competitive start of the campaign: “It’s good that I’ve got time before our next game, I should be ready for the Wolves’ game and hopefully get another 90 minutes.
“After the international break I should be back to full training with the first team. The aim now is hopefully to get my Premier League debut at some point this season. I can’t wait to be back involved in the first team squad again.
“We’ve got a great squad now; players like Dimitri Payet are special. To be able to train with him and all the other new players we have is something I’ve enjoyed so far and can’t wait to get back into it.”
After eight games, the Hammers sit proud in sixth following a terrific run of five unbeaten games.
For Page, a West Ham fan as well as a player, believes his teammates are in for special season: “We’ve picked up some unbelievable results against top teams this season, and then some not so good results at home but I’m sure that’ll turn soon.
“I really think we’re on for a top seven finish, I don’t see why not. That would be a great way to finish the final season at the Boleyn; we haven’t finished that high in the league for a long time. It would be a great send off.”
"The manager and all the staff are very welcoming, they make you feel part of the group and training has been really good. It’s all positive."
Page completed his first 90 minutes in a friendly against AFC Hornchurch, a 1-0 win, on the weekend after being side-lined by a rash challenge sustained in the first-half against Astra Giurgiu.
Having come through his first full game on Saturday unscathed, Page said: “It’s been about nine weeks since the game in Romania; I was out for seven weeks, I’ve been in training for two weeks.
“I’ve been involved in two games now, so it’s good to get minutes up. I was struggling at first and was getting pretty out of breath but I can feel my fitness coming back. I’m about 80% there.”
The left-back enjoyed a fantastic breakthrough pre-season, making his first-team debut against FC Lusitans before impressing in the return leg and away in Romania.
Reflecting on his Hammers’ debut, he beamed: “I’ve got only good memories from pre-season; making my debut was definitely the best thing I’ve done in football. The experience of it was great, then the other first team games in Andorra and Romania was also positive.
“I just want to get back to the level I was at then; the injury came at possible the worst time possible. I was making progress and beginning to show what I can do; hopefully I can get back to that level, if not better.”
After the international break, the Development Squad host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday 19 October at Rush Green, a game Page is aiming to make his first competitive start of the campaign: “It’s good that I’ve got time before our next game, I should be ready for the Wolves’ game and hopefully get another 90 minutes.
“After the international break I should be back to full training with the first team. The aim now is hopefully to get my Premier League debut at some point this season. I can’t wait to be back involved in the first team squad again.
“We’ve got a great squad now; players like Dimitri Payet are special. To be able to train with him and all the other new players we have is something I’ve enjoyed so far and can’t wait to get back into it.”
After eight games, the Hammers sit proud in sixth following a terrific run of five unbeaten games.
For Page, a West Ham fan as well as a player, believes his teammates are in for special season: “We’ve picked up some unbelievable results against top teams this season, and then some not so good results at home but I’m sure that’ll turn soon.
“I really think we’re on for a top seven finish, I don’t see why not. That would be a great way to finish the final season at the Boleyn; we haven’t finished that high in the league for a long time. It would be a great send off.”
"The manager and all the staff are very welcoming, they make you feel part of the group and training has been really good. It’s all positive."