Kevin Nolan is looking forward to leading West Ham United out into a packed Boleyn Ground for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League visit of Birkirkara.
With Slaven Bilic naming a strong squad, the midfielder is set to captain the Hammers in their second qualifying round first leg clash with the Maltese FA Trophy winners.
With experience of European football from his time at Bolton Wanderers, Nolan is relishing a return to continental competition in Claret and Blue.
“I’m thoroughly looking forward to playing against what is going to be a very good Maltese side who have done very well in the first qualifying round to get through,” Nolan told West Ham TV.
“They aren’t going to be pushovers and we’re going to be playing in front of a big crowd, so fair play to the fans for turning out in their numbers again. We thank them for that and hopefully we can give them a good spectacle.
“These games are coming around thick and fast. Pre-season has been very different to how it was in previous seasons – last year we were in New Zealand and everywhere, but this year it is about being at home and trying to qualify for the Europa League.”
The 33-year-old knows just how a run in Europe can galvanise a club and says a long and successful UEFA Europa League challenge will only enhance the feelgood factor permeating through east London and beyond.
“It’s going to be different on Thursday but we’ve got our heads around it and done two weeks of training now and played 60 minutes at Peterborough last weekend. The majority of us will play 90 minutes because we can’t make loads of substitutions, so I’m thoroughly looking forward to it.
“It’s a great honour to be playing in Europe for this Club and to be leading them out is a fantastic honour for me, so I’m going to thoroughly enjoy it for the 90 minutes.
“If I can add a goal, a good team performance and a good win, all the better.”
That win will not come easy, though, against a Birkirkara side managed by former Italian midfielder Giovanni Tedesco and led by former Azzurri striker Fabrizio Miccoli.
“This is where you want to pit your wits against the best, in Europe, and that’s why you go through these qualifying rounds,” Nolan added. “It’s not going to be easy, because we know they are going to be really good technically, as a lot of European teams are no matter what level you play.
“We need to control and dictate the game from start to finish and that’s what we’re planning on doing, but we’ve got to be respectful of the opposition.”