Conor Coventry is looking forward to returning to the club where he gained his first experience of senior football on Wednesday evening.
The Academy of Football graduate played seven times in a 2020 loan spell for Lincoln City that was cut short by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After adding to that experience with further loans at Peterborough United and Milton Keynes Dons, the midfielder went on to feature five times on our run to the UEFA Europa Conference League title last term, while also playing 16 EFL Championship games on loan at Rotherham United.
Now, with the Hammers set to take on Lincoln in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third round tie, Coventry is relishing the prospect of going head-to-head with some familiar faces.
“It was a great experience for me at Lincoln,” he explained. “It was my first loan, my first experience of real first team football.
“I wasn’t there too long because of COVID, but I really enjoyed it. It’s a good club with a really good following and fanbase, with good people there who made me feel welcome and helped me out.
“I was just sort of adapting and had put a run of games together, so I sort of felt like I was finding my way and was hoping to kick on there until the end of the season, so it was a little bit frustrating that COVID cut it short, but I learned a lot there about myself in general.
“It was my first taste of league games and playing in front of fans, so looking back I took a lot from it.
“I know a few of the boys there and they have some really talented players. I know the way they want to play is in a good style and it will be a tough game. They’ve had a good start to the season so it should be a good test.”
With competition for places fierce in the Hammers squad, Coventry has had to be patient while he waits for a chance to impress in David Moyes’ side this term.
So he is hoping the trip to the LNER Stadium could provide him with a platform to help the team as they begin a quest for another trophy.
“Hopefully I can get some minutes,” he continued. “I’m hoping to play and we’ll see what happens. Our schedule until the next international break is jam packed with games every few days so we know everybody is going to be needed.
“I know with the way the boys have been training everyone will be ready as well and hopefully everyone gets a chance.
“The experience we all had together and with the fans in Prague has made everyone hungrier. You can see it in the way we’ve started as well, everyone has a positive momentum and we’re looking to carry it on, push on and try to get another trophy somewhere.”
