Jenkinson eyes Europa progression

The Hammers have taken a much-changed squad to face Astra Giurgiu on Thursday, despite being held to a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Upton Park last week.

Defeat would mean the end of the road, while a win would put Slaven Bilic's side into the play-off round and two legs away from reaching the group stage.

Bilic watched his 10 men let a two-goal lead slip to the Romanian outfit in the third qualifying round first leg and was later sent to the stands himself but, with a tricky away trip to Arsenal opening their Premier League campaign on Sunday, he opted against bringing a full-strength squad.

None of the 11 who started the first leg have travelled, with only skipper Kevin Nolan, new recruit Manuel Lanzini and Jenkinson likely to feature on a regular basis in the league this year.

Jenkinson is involved as he can not play against parent club Arsenal at the weekend and the England international has backed the Hammers to win through - even if they are missing a host of names.

"We have got a lot of quality throughout our squad, it speaks for itself," said Jenkinson, who has returned to Upton Park for a second season-long loan spell.

"The boss has said that he has had to leave a few players at home with one eye on Sunday's game but the players who came are top players, otherwise you don't play for West Ham in the Premier League.

"We will have a good team out, we have more than enough ability in this team to win the game."

Bilic and his players are likely to come in for criticism from West Ham supporters if they fall at this hurdle - but Jenkinson wants a proper European campaign everyone at the club can enjoy.

"Playing in Europe is special for me," he added.

"You test yourself against teams from other countries and it is always a good experience, it is a nice thing to do and you're testing yourself against different styles of football.

"We would love to go through and that is the aim for everyone

For the fans, they would love in the last season at the stadium, for us to be in Europe - it is a big thing for everyone, we all want to be in Europe and we are going to work hard to do that."

Bilic admits he would have preferred to be in a stronger position following the first leg but knows the physical demands on his squad at such an embryonic stage of the season is something he needs to manage.

"We are in a more difficult situation than we would have liked but we will do everything to try to win," he said.

"We have come here with a good team that I have a strong belief in, but it is difficult to play here, then fly back for Arsenal

The situation for most of the clubs who are playing the qualification rounds is the same

We started pre-season very early."

One player definitely back in London is club-record signing Andy Carroll but, with fellow forward Enner Valencia sidelined for up to three months, the England international is making positive steps towards his own recovery from his own knee issue

"Andy Carroll...has been making great final steps in building up his fitness as he continues his return from a knee injury," head of medical and sports science Stijn Vandenbroucke told West Ham's official website

"I can tell you that Andy is being integrated into group training with the under-21 players as he steps up his rehabilitation

To continue the positive theme, we have welcomed five players back to first-team training this week following minor injuries.

"Winston Reid, Matt Jarvis, Pedro Obiang, Darren Randolph and Stephen Hendrie have all recovered well."

Source : PA

Source: PA