West Ham United's U23s have enjoyed a very busy pre-season that has seen them play five fixtures through the month of July without defeat.
Head coach Dmitri Halajko insists Friday night's fixture with Anderlecht is exactly the type of fixture he wants his side to be playing in, as they prepare for their 19/20 Premier League 2 season.
“It’s a great game, a really good fixtures that we are really looking forward to. It’s a Champions League type opposition which are the types of games that we want to have a chance and be involved in," he said.
The academy side have already been abroad in the off-season with a trip to Slovakia where they were victorious in two friendlies, but Friday’s opposition pose a different threat.
“We get to test our lads against foreign opposition and a different style of play, a different country and a different culture so it can only add to our experiences and our development.”
The trip to Brussels completes a seven day stretch where the U23s have been in action three times against three different types of opposition.
Last Friday West Ham were held to a goalless draw against senior opposition in National League Dagenham & Redbridge. They then travelled to Hogwood Park on Tuesday to face academy side Reading U23s where they ran out 2-1 winners with goals from Nathan Holland and Anthony Scully.
Friday night’s fixture will see them face European opposition in RSC Anderlecht, and the Belgian academy side are sure to be a tough test for Halajko’s side.
The Premier League 2 Division 2 season kicks-off for the Hammers next Friday, 9 August, at Dagenham & Redbridge's Chigwell Construction Stadium.