MATTHEW Etherington will be aiming to compound the Premier League problems for his former West Ham United team-mates at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow . . . even though he believes they are in a false position at present.
The experienced winger, who joined Stoke City from the Hammers at the beginning of this year, hopes to be lining up against them for the return to Premier League action following the international break this weekend.
Etherington and his City team-mates will be looking to get back to winning ways on home soil at the expense of a West Ham side that is struggling one off the bottom of the table after winning only one of their first seven matches.
"I am really, really surprised to be honest that West Ham are where they are at the moment because they have got a great manager there in Gianfranco Zola and I really believed they would push on this season and be up there," he commented. "But it is early on and I am sure they will turn things around sooner rather than later.
"There is so much talent there, and they have a lot of good young players who are coming through so they are definitely a team on the up. I have seen them a couple of times this season and they pass the ball around really well."
Etherington was a regular in the West Ham side over the six seasons he spent with the club, making 165 League appearances and scoring 16 goals, while he also helped them to win promotion and reach the FA Cup Final in 2006.
"Any game against West Ham will be one I look forward to. It is my old Club and a place I have very fond memories of, so I am really looking forward to it. I always look out for their results because I played for them and I want them to do well," he said.
"In every game you want to go out there and put on a performance but I suppose there is an added incentive when you play one of your former clubs."
"I had five great years at West Ham. There were a lot of ups and there were some downs too. I will never forget helping to get them get promoted back in to the Premier League; that was special. There was also the FA Cup Final which was fantastic, and obviously the 'great escape' season, which was phenomenal to be honest."
He added: "There will always be a special place in my heart for West Ham, because of the times I enjoyed there. They treated me brilliantly, to be fair to them, and the supporters were great too so I will never forget that."
"Stoke definitely comes first now and our objective is go out there and get all three points. That's what we want and that is what we need."
*There are now a limited number of tickets available for the West Ham match which are currently on general sale. 'Category A' prices apply for this game with tickets available from the Britannia Stadium Ticket Office or the new Club Store in the Potteries Shopping Centre. For more information, call the Britannia Stadium Ticket Office on 0871 663 2007 or you can book online by clicking below:
