Zola glad to be back (From Echo)

Zola glad to be back

10:36pm Tuesday 7th July 2009

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GIANFRANCO Zola intends to make the most of a crucial few weeks as West Ham look to hit the ground running when the new Barclays Premier League campaign opens against Wolves.

Before the Hammers take on last season's Coca-Cola Championship winners, they will head to a training camp in Austria and then travel to the Far East for the Barclays Asia Trophy, which also involves Tottenham and Hull.

With local friendlies against Thurrock, Grays Athletic and Ryman League Premier Division outfit Kingstonian also before the curtain raiser against Serie A side Napoli at Upton Park on August 8, Zola's squad will certainly not be short of match practice ahead of the visit to Molineux.

The Italian guided the East London club to a more-than-respectable ninth place last season, but missed out on the chance to qualify for the new Europa League.

Zola knows the importance of making the best possible use of this month's preparation times.

"It feels very good to be back," said the Hammers boss on return to training at Chadwell Heath.

"We are here very much willing and ready to start this new season.

"We have a lot of enthusiasm and are looking forward to getting started."

Zola added on WHUTV: "I had a very, very good rest and like everybody else, I recharged my batteries to start the new season.

"This is the most crucial time of the year.

"We need to make sure we work well because it will have a lot of benefits in the future."

Not all of the Hammers squad have been asked to report back just yet - with England trio Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole all having been given a few extra days off, along with others who had a busy summer of international football.

New signing Luis Jimenez, the striker from Inter Milan, is set to join up with the rest of the squad ahead of next week's trip to Austria.

Winger Julien Faubert is also back at West Ham following his loan spell with Real Madrid at the end of last season, while both Scott Parker and Valon Behrami are stepping up their rehabilitation programmes to be fit for the start of the new campaign.

Two of West Ham's youngsters hoping to continue their progress with the first team are Jack Collison and James Tomkins.

"Everything the manager has said since he has been here he has lived up to and more," said Wales midfielder Collison, 20.

"We have been playing some really nice stuff, but we want to carry that on and improve individually and as a team in the new season."

England Under-21 defender Tomkins, part of the squad which reached the European Championship final in Sweden last month, added: "I really enjoyed my run in the team.

"Now, I have got to push on and keep improving and see where it goes from there."

The future of midfielder Lee Bowyer looks set to be with Birmingham following a successful loan spell.

The Hammers, though, would appear keen to retain the services of former captain Lucas Neill, 31, who was set to leave after failing to agree terms on a new deal.

The Australian defender's agent, Paddy Dominguez, said: "Lucas' heart is at West Ham and he knows that manager Gianfranco Zola not only wants him at the club but also as captain.

"So now it is up to the West Ham administration to come up with an acceptable offer for an extension of his contract.

"We are not talking about a new contract here, but an extension, which would be easier for everybody concerned. We should have something in about a week."

Dominguez added on The World Game website, www.theworldgame.com.au: "It has always been the preference of Lucas that he wants to remain at West Ham, but it is up to the club administration to execute that.

"The ownership has changed a number of times since Lucas has been at the club. Now it's different because they [the owners] are bankers.

"We are giving them every opportunity to reach agreement, but there are other English Premier League and continental clubs in the mix."

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