West Ham new boy Reid confident of improvement

By Simon Hayes on August 19, 2010 11:12 AM |

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As debuts go Winston Reid's Premier League baptism was pretty tough.

The New Zealand international made his West Ham bow at right back against Aston Villa last Saturday, and found himself up against England players Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, though there was little Reid could do to stop Villa easily winning 3-0.

He was disappointed with how his Hammers career has started.

He said: "It is very disappointing, but that's football, you can't win all the time. We could have done a lot of things better, but that's how it is sometimes.

"It was pretty hard out there a couple of times, but this is the Premier League so there are no easy opponents. I know I have to prepare really hard for every game and do my best.

"It certainly wasn't the start we were hoping for, but you know we have to look forward from this and hopefully it won't happen again."

Reid, 22, joined the Hammers two weeks ago from Danish First Division side Mydtjylland, after impressing during New Zealand's World Cup campaign, where he scored a last-minute equaliser against Slovakia. He's confident his experiences in South Africa and Denmark will help him adjust to Premier League life.

He said: "I have to be confident otherwise I wouldn't have taken this step. If I can cope in South Africa, then I can do it here. It will get better I'm sure.

"It's a lot tougher here. I think Danish football is probably higher than the Championship here. It is a lot more tactical in Denmark, there is more passing back and forth, but it's certainly a lot faster over here."

Like any good team player Reid is happy to fill any position he is asked to, although he has no doubt where his best role is.

"Centre half definitely," he said. "I want to play centre half, but you know the manager told me to go out and do the job at right back and I'm prepared to do that for the team."