Halle Houssein is grateful for the opportunity to represent West Ham United in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
The Hammers were beaten 3-0 by Everton at Walton Hall Park on an afternoon where Paul Konchesky’s side gave themselves a mountain to climb early on.
After headers from Karen Holmgaard and Megan Finnigan gave the Toffees a comfortable lead with 12 minutes played, the east Londoners could not find a response, despite a couple of good chances - namely from Kate Longhurst and Viviane Asseyi.
Blues substitute, Aggie Beever-Jones later fired in a third as the Hammers slipped to their second consecutive league defeat.
18-year-old midfielder Houssein, who played the final eleven minutes on Merseyside, admitted that it was a difficult day for her side.
“It’s always going to be tough when you concede two goals so early on in a match,” the youngster told whufc.com.
“We’re all really disappointed with the way those first two goals came about because it’s never nice to concede from a set-piece, let alone two so early on.
“I thought the girls did well after that period. They were playing some nice stuff with the ball and trying to get us back into it - but ultimately, we came up short.”
The midfielder has appeared six times this season in Claret and Blue and has been a regular in the matchday squad under Konchesky. The former Hammers' defender gave Houssein her first professional start back in January 2022 when the then assistant manager took charge of the side in the absence of Olli Harder, who was recovering from Covid-19.
Nearly a year later, Houssein is pleased to be in contention for minutes week in week out at West Ham, and making very good progress in her own individual development because of the exposure to first-team football.
“When I come on, I just want to be able to help the team as much as I can," she added. "I know I’m still learning the game but getting minutes in the WSL is massive for my development and I feel as though it’s having a big impact on me.
“It’s tough coming onto the pitch when the team are behind and I think you just have to give it your all, put yourself about and try and lift that team spirit.”
The former Arsenal trainee entered the fray alongside Keira Flannery and Izzy Atkinson, and she admits that it’s nice to see other young players also getting their opportunities.
“I think it’s comforting when you see other players of a similar age to you also coming onto the pitch, and its credit to the manager for trusting us to do a job.
“It’s much harder now for a young player to break into a WSL side because of how competitive the league is, but I think there’s a clear vision at West Ham to trust young players.
“All I want to do is give back on the trust that is shown in me, and hopefully I did that out on the pitch,” she said.
The Hammers are now preparing for two massive cup matches, with a trip back to Merseyside coming on Wednesday (25 January) when the team take on Liverpool in the quarter finals of the Continental Tyres League Cup.
Then, attention will turn to the Vitality Women’s FA Cup, with a trip to Wolves on Sunday to come.
Houssein and the team are ready for a big week then, and confident they can bounce back after the disappointment on Merseyside.
“Every game we want to win and with the cup you know there’s no second chances – you have to give it your all on the night otherwise you’re out.
“I think it’s a realistic chance for the Club to win some silverware, so we need to be ready and bounce back.”
