West Ham United U21s goalkeeper Krisztián Hegyi feels ready for the Premier League 2 campaign to resume following the mid-season break for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals.
The young shot-stopper has been a regular presence for Mark Robson’s side this season, starting in twelve of thirteen Premier League 2 matches this term.
Hegyi suggested that the break provided players with a period of reflection, with the Hungarian delighted with his start to the season.
“I am really happy with my season so far,” Hegyi told whufc.com. “I have gained so much experience in the last few months, especially when I have been in and around the first team. It has been a real positive for me to be training with the senior players. I have also been a part of the first team squad for matches, for example when we played away against FCSB, so it has been really great.
“Things have also been more encouraging with the U21s. We didn’t start the season very well but we picked up some much-needed points before the break. The start of the season was extremely poor from our point of view but the last few matches have been a lot better and I am looking forward to getting started again.”
A mid-season break is not a regular occurrence and Hegyi suggested that although it was strange for the players, it was also an important period of time.
He continued: “It’s been really interesting. This is something that has never happened before and it has been slightly weird for the season to be put on hold. It has been a good time for us to train hard and to make sure that we are ready to go when the season resumes again.
“We have been working hard, we feel fit and sharp and we are developing and getting better every day. Hopefully this period has made us stronger and I hope that we will be able to show this in the second half of the season.”
The young Hammers are currently on a three-match winning streak, beating Tottenham Hotspur, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Feyenoord before the break.
Hegyi wants that run to continue when the U21s face Everton on 6 January.
“I’m excited to get going again," he added. "We were starting to build some momentum before the break and hopefully, we can continue this momentum in our next games. We have some tough games coming up, but we feel ready. Hopefully, we can gain a lot of points in the second half of this season."
