GIANFRANCO Zola insists his West Ham side will return 'fresher' in time for their game against West Bromwich Albion on Monday evening after a warm-weather training camp in Spain.
A number of training sessions were followed by an intensive fitness programme was the order of the day, rather than time spent basking in the sunshine.
And Zola is confident the break will have a positive effect on the players.
“It has been really positive and there were many benefits for everyone,” said the Italian. “It was the right moment to change the scenario and freshen things up for the players.”
The players left for the run-in to the season will have a tough job on their hands, with a place in the Uefa Cup up for grabs, and they will have to do it without Valon Behrami, who has been ruled out for up to six months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while Jack Collison, James Collins, Danny Gabbidon, Kieran Dyer and Dean Ashton all still on the treatment table.
“Valon has been exceptional. One of the players of the season,” added Zola. “Knowing the kind of personality he is, I'm sure he will do his best to be back as soon as he can.”
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