Vladimír Coufal is feeling refreshed, injury-free sharp and ready to go ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
The 29-year-old is heading into his third season as a West Ham United player and is fully focused on building on the success of the previous two years.
Having achieved back-to-back top-seven Premier League finishes and helped his side reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League last term, the Hammers will have a fresh challenge in the shape of the Europa Conference League in 2022/23.
And having used his summer break to rest up and strengthen again following hernia surgery at the turn of the year and post-season UEFA Nations League duty with Czech Republic, Coufal is champing at the bit.
“I needed some rest after the surgery I had last year but even at the end of last season I felt really good. Now it’s better and better,” he explained.
“I enjoyed the international break in June and the short holiday I had afterwards. I’ve been back a couple of weeks and I feel myself in good condition and excited to start the new season.
“We need to go through to the Conference League group stages and then we’ll be playing every three or four days.
“The schedule will be busy and that is why this time of year is so important. We keep in condition, every player. We have a really good squad and we believe in our power,
“It’s going to be a fun season.”
Coufal returned to Rush Green with the rest of the Club’s international players in early July and, having got his eye back in with run-outs at Reading and Rangers, he is looking forward to a third pre-season test at EFL Championship Play-Off semi-finalists Luton Town on Saturday.
With the Claret and Blue Army snapping up every one of the 1,580 tickets available to them for the Kenilworth Road clash, Coufal was full of praise for their backing.
“It will be a very difficult test for us,” he added “We’ve trained really hard this week and it will be a good test because they played in the Play-Offs and only just missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season.
“It will be tough like every friendly game, but it is one we are looking forward to as we build towards the new season.
“It’s always very pleasing to see so many West Ham fans at every stadium in these pre-season games.
“It shows their passion and their support for us and we are very grateful for it."
