One month after their long trophy drought was finally ended, West Ham United step up preparations for the 2023-24 campaign on Monday, when they visit Boreham Wood at Meadow Park.
Following their Europa Conference League triumph the Hammers enjoyed a short summer break, but having recently returned to training they now tackle National League opponents in their first pre-season fixture.
Match preview
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Having won the club's first major silverware since 1980 to end a season of struggle in spectacular style, West Ham's subsequent rest period came to an end on Thursday, when the Europa Conference League winners returned to training.
After their exploits in Prague, where the Hammers defeated Fiorentina to win the final, several stars were then required to continue a lengthy 2022-23 campaign by representing their country in international football, and those players will be offered an extended break.
The other members of the Premier League club's squad were back at the Rush Green training facility in midweek, to begin preparations for a season in which West Ham will take on the challenge of claiming back-to-back continental crowns by competing in the Europa League.
Without his senior internationals, who are scheduled to return in mid-July, manager David Moyes is also set to start life after inspirational captain Declan Rice, as the veteran coach works overtime alongside the Irons' recruitment department to replace his talismanic skipper.
More than a month before the visit to Bournemouth to kick off their Premier League campaign, West Ham's first warm-up game on Monday comes before they head off on a tour of Australia. While there, they will play A-League side Perth Glory before contesting a London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
This time last year, Moyes and co were also welcomed to Meadow Park by National League club Boreham Wood, when the teams played out a 1-1 draw.
For the eighth season running, the Wood are preparing for another campaign in the fifth tier under long-serving boss Luke Garrard, and they have already been back in action this summer after finishing sixth last term.
Watford were their visitors on Wednesday, when a goalless draw represented the Hertfordshire side's first outing since losing to Notts County in the National League playoff semi-finals.
After Garrard's men held firm to deny the Hornets victory, repeating that feat against West Ham would further lift spirits in the camp ahead of their first league match of the season, which comes at the start of next month away to Gateshead.
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As David Moyes will be without several players who were involved in international football during the summer, his initial starting lineup could feature a mix of established squad members and some promising youngsters.
Conference League final hero Jarrod Bowen joined Pablo Fornals, Emerson Palmieri and Angelo Ogbonna - the latter of whom signed a new contract with West Ham this week - in returning to training, and all four could be involved on Monday.
In addition to departing captain Declan Rice, the Hammers will not have Lucas Paqueta or Jamaica forward Michail Antonio available, while full-back Ben Johnson has been representing England at the Under-21 Euros.
Boreham Wood, meanwhile, are likely to name a similar lineup to that which started Wednesday's draw with Watford, with Tyrone Marsh featuring up front.
In addition to two unnamed trialists, three debutants made an appearance in that game, and Tom Whelan, Timmy Abraham and Angelo Balanta should all play a part against West Ham too. Defender David Stephens suffered an Achilles injury, though, and is set to miss out.
Boreham Wood possible starting lineup:
Ashmore; Coxe, Agbontohoma, Fyfield, Ilesanmi; Whelan, Payne, Sousa; Balanta; Marsh, Abraham
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Areola; Ogbonna, Zouma, Cresswell; Benrahma, Fornals, Downes, Palmieri; Bowen, Ings, Mubama
We say: Boreham Wood 0-1 West Ham United
Having shut out Watford in midweek - after conceding only 40 league goals last year in the high-scoring National League - Boreham Wood are clearly capable of frustrating a mix-and-match West Ham side still short of match fitness.
It may be only a single goal that separates the sides on Monday, then, with the Hammers' top-flight quality ultimately proving the decisive factor.
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Jonathan O'Shea
