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Jermain Defoe has backed Callum Wilson to inspire an improvement in West Ham’s fortunes heading into the new campaign.
Wilson has arrived in the capital on a free transfer from Newcastle tasked with adding firepower to a squad who languished in the bottom half of the Premier League last term.
The 33-year-old scored 12 goals against West Ham while with Bournemouth and the Magpies but Defoe feels he will soon find his groove with the Hammers as he seeks membership of an exclusive club.
“Callum Wilson is a massive signing, he’s a big player,” said Defoe, who scored 41 goals in 105 appearances for West Ham himself.
“If you can keep him fit, he will definitely score goals and he always backs himself to do so.
“He’s on 88 Premier League goals and he’s told me he wants to be in the 100 club, so that tells you how much he wants to play.
“He could have stayed at Newcastle, played some part, but the fact he’s gone to West Ham shows he wants to play every game.
“They need to improve on last season and they have players like Jarrod Bowen, who has been good for the last three years, but he needs help.”
Graham Potter’s arrival in the hotseat midway through last season failed to have the instant impact Hammers fans craved, with the former Chelsea boss winning just five of his 19 games in charge to date.
But Defoe, who hails from Canning Town, has urged patience as Potter looks to work his magic.
“It’s a big one for him this year, he has to do well,” he said.
“The fans demand a lot, you have to play the West Ham way, it’s got to be exciting football.
“The history of the club, the players who have played for them – even when I came through, the amazing players I played with there – it’s a club that has always had good players and won a trophy not too long ago under David Moyes.
“It’s a big year for West Ham this year and they have to improve.”
Defoe was speaking as part was speaking at a KP Snacks event in Charlton Park, helping to celebrate their achievement of installing 100 all-weather, grassroots community cricket pitches across England and Wales as part of their Everyone In campaign.
He has not played the sport since his schooldays but relished taking part and seeing the opportunities on offer for children in the capital.
“It’s an amazing campaign and it’s really good to be involved,” he said.
“This is pitch number 100, so it was only right that I picked the bat up and hit a six.
“To see families come out, the pros come out, and see that connection with the community is really nice.
“My grandad loved cricket, I remember being at my nan’s house and my grandad was always watching cricket, with his St Lucian background, supporting the West Indies.
“Years later, I was at West Ham with Shaka Hislop and through Shaka, I met Brian Lara and became friends. It’s a fantastic sport and one I want to go and watch soon.”
KP Snacks, the Official Team Partner of The Hundred, are celebrating the installation of 100 new community cricket pitches across England and Wales as part of their Everyone In campaign. To find out more and search for your nearest pitch, visit: www.everyonein.co.uk/pitchfinder .
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