West Ham defender James Tomkins vows to fight for his place in the first team. The 26-year-old centre-back has featured on the bench in the last two matches, despite starting at right-back for the Hammers in the opening day win against Arsenal.
The Hammers have a crowded central defence since the signing of Italian international Angelo Ogbonna from Juventus took place over the summer, although after a woeful showing for the fullbacks against Bournemouth on Saturday, Tomkins could push for another start against Liverpool this weekend.
“I am willing to fight for my position and it is something I strive on,” Tomkins told the West Ham’s official website. “You have got to better yourself every time you go out onto the training field. I am looking forward to seeing what the team is on Saturday and hopefully I will be playing.”
Tomkins was brought on as a substitute late in the first half against Bournemouth in an attempt to tidy up the defence, but West Ham still fell 4-3.
“It is important that we bounce back very quickly. We are all very positive in the changing room and need to keep believing in what we are doing because we have already showed that against a big team like Arsenal,” Tomkins said.
West Ham will have a task before them as they try to lock down Liverpool’s new signing Christian Benteke. “He is a great striker and fully deserves his move. He is very good in the air and is a handful to play against at times,” but Tomkins and Slaven Bilic will be striving to shut down the Belgian striker and right the ship after two disappointing losses.
