Aaron Cresswell is looking forward to the start of West Ham United’s Emirates FA Cup challenge at home to Birmingham City on Saturday.
The Hammers complete a run of five games in 15 days with a lunchtime clash with the Blues, who are going well in the Championship.
West Ham have themselves won five of their last eight in the Premier League and the left-back is hoping Manuel Pellegrini’s side can take that form into the world’s most-famous knockout competition.
“As an English lad, the FA Cup is one of the best tournaments anyone can play in,” he confirmed. “I’ve never gone past the quarter-finals, that’s the furthest I’ve been, so I’d love to get to the semi-finals and play at Wembley and who knows what could happen there?
“I think it looks pretty nailed on that we’re going to do well in the Premier League, where we’re mid-table, and we want a strong end to the season, so why can’t we have a good FA Cup run?
“Birmingham will also fancy a cup run too, so they’re going to want to win the game as much as we are, but hopefully it’ll be us that goes through to the fourth round.”
I think it looks pretty nailed on that we’re going to do well in the Premier League, where we’re mid-table, and we want a strong end to the season, so why can’t we have a good FA Cup run?
Aaron Cresswell
One player who could be vital to West Ham’s chances of progressing on Saturday is Marko Arnautovic, who announced his return to fitness from a hamstring injury with two goals in the midweek Premier League draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.
The No7’s strikes saw the Irons recover from two goals down to hold the Seagulls at London Stadium and Cresswell is under no illusions as to Arnautovic’s importance to their hopes of success on all fronts
“Marko was in good form just before he got injured and missed a few weeks with his hamstring and it was frustrating for us and, I imagine, for him,” he observed. “That’s what we want from Marko, for him to get back in amongst the goals. He played 60 or 70 minutes against Burnley and obviously had to come off due to the risk of reinjury after being out for that time. Obviously, he was fantastic on Wednesday with his two goals and hopefully he can kick on now.
“Marko loves the place and loves London. Certainly, he has been fantastic over the last 18 months and anyone who is doing well in the Premier League gets linked with big clubs, but we want him to stay, I’m sure he wants to stay and we love him.
“He’s a great character. That’s Marko and anyone who knows him will say that. He’s a great character to have around the dressing room.”