Vladimír Coufal is hoping West Ham can continue their strong mid-season form - despite his future at the club appearing to be up in the air.
The Czech Republic international has been a huge part of the Hammers' success in recent campaigns, with his trademark runs down the wing making him a fan favourite at the London Stadium. After being a regular in his first two seasons with the club, after signing from Slavia Prague in October 2020, the 30-year-old has been a bit-part player in 2022/23.
The right-back has had to play second fiddle at times to summer signing Thilo Kehrer, despite the fact the German is predominantly a centre-back, and Ben Johnson has also been preferred by manager David Moyes on occasion.
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Despite racking up just two minutes in West Ham's last five Premier League matches, Coufal has enjoyed much-needed game time in his side's recent friendlies against Cambridge United and Udinese.
The former Slovan Liberec star played the second half of the 4-2 win over Cambridge and impressed in a starting role in a 3-1 triumph over Udinese, too. While his future is somewhat uncertain, he is very much focused on their final warm-up match against Fulham on Saturday before their Boxing Day fixture away at Arsenal when the Premier League returns.
“I’ve been back in Prague with my family and it was perfect. I enjoyed every moment with my family and my kids. We had a good time," he told the club's website. “Since we have been back, we’ve played two friendly games so far.
"Yes, they are just friendly games, but every victory still gives us confidence. Saturday will be our third game since the break (for the World Cup), so we are trying to build momentum - we are looking for a third win against Fulham.”
Coufal's contract with the club is up in the summer, however, there is an option to extend his deal by a further two years. But, if he does not get the minutes he craves, a January exit could be on the cards, if not in the summer.
And going by his remarks, Coufal, who has started all six of his side's Europa Conference League games but is struggling for Premier League minutes, has not been entirely happy with how things have gone in recent months.
He said earlier in December, via Football Club: “I went to ask (why I’m not playing so much anymore). But they couldn’t tell me anything about it.
"That’s football. Sometimes you play, sometimes you don’t. If the situation that occurred during the autumn were to continue, something will definitely be resolved and is being resolved. I don’t want to sit on the bench here as much as in the autumn.”
He added: “If possible, I would like to stay in England. The Premier League is the best league in the world.”
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