Stephen Hendrie's Dev Squad face Liverpool tonight, Rush Green, 7pm
After impressing in the Development Squad’s emphatic 4-1 win over Newcastle last week, left-back Stephen Hendrie is relishing tonight’s semi-final with Liverpool.
The Scottish U21 international has been in impressive form lately for Terry Westley’s side, and contributed two assists in the win over the Magpies with two scintillating crosses.
Now, the former Hamilton Academical man is eyeing an even bigger win tonight at Rush Green. He said: “It was great to get such a big win at a place like St James’ Park, we scored four goals and probably could have had more.
“But now we are fully concentrated on the Liverpool game. It’s great to go into this game with confidence. We know it’ll be a big challenge, but we know if we play to our strengths we know we have what it takes to progress to the final.”
Since joining West Ham in the summer, Hendrie has been a key component of the Dev Squad’s recent success, while also being named on the bench for the first team on several occasions.
Hendrie also enjoyed further success during a stint of loan at Southend United, where he made his Football League debut for the Shrimpers, and capped five appearances off with a 79th minute match-winner away at Shrewsbury Town.
He continued: “My time at Southend was really good, and very beneficial. It was great to make my League debut here in England and I learnt a lot.
“Playing first team football at any level is good; the standard is a lot better then what people might think. Obviously I’d like to get more opportunities, but I am happy here at West Ham. We’ve got a great squad and I’m confident in my abilities.
“I just need to try and keep working hard and see where that gets me.”
A bona-fide member of the first team squad, Hendrie has a foot in both at Chadwell Heath and Rush Green, an experience he is clearly enjoying.
He said: “The younger lads that have come in have all done superb. I remember being a youngster coming through, so it’s nice to be able to help them come through.
“Looking around the club, it’s looking good for West Ham at the moment. Obviously we’ve got the semi-final tonight, and then it would be fantastic if the U21s could get to the play offs.
“Likewise the first team are doing amazingly well so there’s a lot to look forward to between now and the end of the season.”
The Scottish U21 international has been in impressive form lately for Terry Westley’s side, and contributed two assists in the win over the Magpies with two scintillating crosses.
Now, the former Hamilton Academical man is eyeing an even bigger win tonight at Rush Green. He said: “It was great to get such a big win at a place like St James’ Park, we scored four goals and probably could have had more.
“But now we are fully concentrated on the Liverpool game. It’s great to go into this game with confidence. We know it’ll be a big challenge, but we know if we play to our strengths we know we have what it takes to progress to the final.”
Since joining West Ham in the summer, Hendrie has been a key component of the Dev Squad’s recent success, while also being named on the bench for the first team on several occasions.
Hendrie also enjoyed further success during a stint of loan at Southend United, where he made his Football League debut for the Shrimpers, and capped five appearances off with a 79th minute match-winner away at Shrewsbury Town.
He continued: “My time at Southend was really good, and very beneficial. It was great to make my League debut here in England and I learnt a lot.
“Playing first team football at any level is good; the standard is a lot better then what people might think. Obviously I’d like to get more opportunities, but I am happy here at West Ham. We’ve got a great squad and I’m confident in my abilities.
“I just need to try and keep working hard and see where that gets me.”
A bona-fide member of the first team squad, Hendrie has a foot in both at Chadwell Heath and Rush Green, an experience he is clearly enjoying.
He said: “The younger lads that have come in have all done superb. I remember being a youngster coming through, so it’s nice to be able to help them come through.
“Looking around the club, it’s looking good for West Ham at the moment. Obviously we’ve got the semi-final tonight, and then it would be fantastic if the U21s could get to the play offs.
“Likewise the first team are doing amazingly well so there’s a lot to look forward to between now and the end of the season.”