Danny Ings says his transfer to West Ham is his “best transition but”, however he didn’t anticipate to go away Aston Villa within the January switch window.
The striker made the transfer to London two months in the past, having spent 18 months at Villa Park, because the Hammers struggle in opposition to relegation from the Premier League in one of many tightest races in latest seasons.
Chatting with Sky Sports activities’ Patrick Davison forward of West Ham’s Tremendous Sunday showdown with one other of Ings’ former golf equipment – Southampton – the 30-year-old described how the transfer was accomplished in simply 48 hours.
“I did not really anticipate to go away. I used to be doing fairly effectively for Villa on the time, I used to be scoring objectives so it was a bit surprising and it occurred so shortly,” he mentioned.
“The transition occurred in about 48 hours, I feel. To get it executed so shortly and be concerned in that first recreation after I signed, it was a terrific feeling.
“My agent in all probability knew barely sooner than me, but it surely was fairly late for me to search out out. My agent requested if I needed to do it and I mentioned sure.
“Right away, I assumed it was a great one for me. At Villa, though I used to be doing effectively, I wasn’t discovering myself taking part in week in, week out and that was tough – if you’re scoring objectives and that is not taking place, it is robust.
“I used to be ready to return in and see all people at Villa and say thanks for all the pieces and say my goodbyes. I have not been ready to try this earlier than so it was good.
“It was an ideal transfer for me. I at all times needed to play for a London membership in some unspecified time in the future in my profession so it was a no brainer.
“I might say this transition has been the simplest for me. I do not know if that is expertise of transferring rather a lot previously, but it surely’s been actually clean. The persons are nice, all people on the membership have taken care of me and my household, which has been nice. It is all right down to the liaison group, who helped us discover a place. It has been very straightforward.”
Ings’ recommendation to keep away from relegation | ‘Bundles of expertise in West Ham dressing room’
Though Ings describes the transfer as a “no-brainer”, he joined a West Ham facet struggling to match the type of previous seasons. They discover themselves within the relegation zone, one level from security.
Nonetheless, the relative security of twelfth place – at present occupied by Crystal Palace – is simply three factors away in a relegation battle that is still too near name.
Ings is not any stranger to a struggle to keep away from the drop into the Championship, and supplied his personal blueprint for protecting your Premier League place.
He mentioned: “Dedication over all the pieces else. Understanding the place you might be and what must be executed is essential. It is essential for folks to step up and seize it by the scruff of the neck.
“We’ve not had a recreation now for per week or 10 days, we have been working onerous and we’re itching to get again on the market and switch issues round.
“As a striker, you at all times have these pressures [to hit the ground running], regardless of the place you might be actually. Shifting in January was a brand new factor for me. I do know that I’ve come right here to attain objectives and assist the group.
“Earlier than I got here, they weren’t in the perfect place they usually’re nonetheless not now. However we’re dedicated each single day to vary that.
“If any group has success in latest seasons, the expectation is larger. Groups have tough seasons, it is simply the best way the league goes and there is a lot high quality in that as effectively.
“It is positively onerous as a result of the followers are very passionate and the lads need to ship what they need each single week.
“The league is so robust, some video games do not go the best way you need it to after which different days, we have now extraordinarily good days the place we roll over groups and all the pieces is nice once more. It is the highs and lows of being a footballer.”
Ings can be sure West Ham have the expertise of their squad to keep away from a return to English soccer’s second tier.
“Earlier than I signed, you take a look at the squad and see the expertise within the room and the way a lot West Ham have achieved in the previous few seasons. It was a great transfer and one I used to be trying ahead to,” he added.
“The previous few seasons, I’ve hated taking part in in opposition to West Ham. I do not suppose I’ve really scored in opposition to them, so I knew how good the squad was.
“However being in coaching with them daily and seeing the standard, it is evident. I do not suppose you obtain what they’ve over the past couple of seasons with out that. There’s bundles of expertise inside that dressing room.
“However having the expertise within the squad isn’t sufficient, as all people is aware of, the Premier League is so tough.
“For us, we want to ensure we’re giving 100 per cent day in, time out as a result of it is a very tough time and lots of good groups on this league that we have to beat.
“We have positively acquired greater than sufficient capacity throughout the dressing room to try this. However there may be lots of work between now and the tip of the season to ensure that occurs. There’s lots of good groups in and round it. For us, we all know precisely how a lot work must be executed to get the job executed.”
Ings centered on West Ham forward of Saints reunion
Southampton are one of many groups vying for Premier League survival. They’re backside of the desk by some extent, and underneath new supervisor Ruben Selles, scorching on the heels of the groups above them – together with West Ham.
However regardless of Ings’ connections to Southampton as a membership and a metropolis, he’s solely centered on the job he has to do for his present group.
“It is a huge recreation,” he mentioned of the match in opposition to the Saints, dwell on Sky Sports activities. “It is a residence recreation and we have been fairly good at residence not too long ago.
“It is going to be extraordinarily tough, each groups preventing for the factors, it is vital. I spent a extremely good few years at Southampton, I’ve acquired nice buddies there, however I am at West Ham now and that is the place I would like to present it all the pieces. That is why I signed. Everybody is aware of that regardless of the place I’m, what membership I am at, I am going to at all times give it 100 per cent.
“I do not suppose it’s tough [to separate his hometown club and his current club] as a result of I am there to do a job for my group and that is precisely what I’ve to do. For those who begin overthinking issues, you will not convey out your greatest talents in that recreation.
“For me, I take a look at it as simply one other recreation and I’ve acquired to ensure I give my all for the group, whether or not I begin or come from the bench, I’ve to attempt to assist West Ham in any manner I can.”
Watch West Ham vs Southampton dwell on Sky Sports activities Premier League and Most important Occasion from 1pm on Tremendous Sunday; kick-off 2pm