Aaron Cresswell has praised the impact of substitute Danny Ings during Sunday's Burnley draw, ahead of West Ham United’s hotly-anticipated UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg against SC Freiburg on Thursday evening.
The ex-Clarets striker was a bright spark during a dramatic clash against his former club that finished 2-2 at London Stadium, coming off the bench to help secure a point with a late goal.
Ings’ 71st Premier League strike - that came before another chance saw him hit the crossbar in the dying embers of the game - served a reminder of the quality possessed by the 31-year-old, according to teammate Cresswell.
“The goal Danny scored against Burnley is typical of what he is about,” the Hammers left-back enthused. “He is certainly one of the best finishers we have at the Club.
“He has been in the Premier League for a long time, and scored plenty of goals. He knows this league inside out.
“A lot of people don’t see the hard work he puts in behind the scenes, and as a striker you just need that one goal to gain momentum and then take it into the next game. Hopefully, the goal will do him the world of good.”
For Cresswell and company, such an impact is one the Hammers will hope to see again on Thursday, as David Moyes’ men look to bounce back following two disappointing results, by their standards, in their last two outings.
Following a 1-0 defeat in their first leg against Freiburg last Thursday, West Ham head back to London Stadium looking to repeat their heroics at this stage of the competition almost two years ago, against Sevilla.
That night is one Cresswell remembers all too well, having played 120 minutes in one of the Club's biggest nights in the modern era.
“I am sure the crowd will be right up for it,” Cresswell said. “Playing in a European competition is fantastic, and I am sure it will be a special night.
“We want to give the fans something to shout about, and [a reason to] get behind the team. We’ll be ready when that whistle blows to come out of the blocks and give it everything we have got.”
A few years further into his career since that Sevilla win, Cresswell knows his role off the pitch will be important going into Thursday's game, as well as on it if called upon by boss Moyes.
He added: “Whether or not I play on Thursday, I’ll still be fully supportive of the team and of the lads. It’s all I can do.
“I am not getting any younger. I think Emerson has been brilliant this year, and is rightly playing regularly. If the Club or the manager needs me to step in, then I will.
“I want to be competing and I want to be playing myself, but I have been in football long enough [to know this happens]. I am ready if the gaffer needs me, and I’ll always do the best I can for this Club.”
