Danny Ings says his transfer to West Ham is his “best transition but”, however he didn’t count on to go away Aston Villa within the January switch window.

The striker made the transfer to London two months in the past, having spent 18 months at Villa Park, because the Hammers struggle towards relegation from the Premier League in one of many tightest races in latest seasons.

Talking to Sky Sports activities’ Patrick Davison forward of West Ham’s Tremendous Sunday showdown with one other of Ings’ former golf equipment – Southampton – the 30-year-old described how the transfer was accomplished in simply 48 hours.

“I did not truly count on to go away. I used to be doing fairly nicely for Villa on the time, I used to be scoring objectives so it was a bit surprising and it occurred so rapidly,” he stated.

“The transition occurred in about 48 hours, I feel. To get it achieved so rapidly and be concerned in that first sport once I signed, it was an important feeling.

“My agent most likely knew barely sooner than me, nevertheless it was fairly late for me to seek out out. My agent requested if I needed to do it and I stated sure.

“Right away, I assumed it was a very good one for me. At Villa, though I used to be doing nicely, I wasn’t discovering myself taking part in week in, week out and that was tough – while you’re scoring objectives and that is not taking place, it is robust.

“I used to be ready to return in and see everyone at Villa and say thanks for all the things and say my goodbyes. I have not been ready to try this earlier than so it was good.

“It was an ideal transfer for me. I at all times needed to play for a London membership sooner or later in my profession so it was a no brainer.

“I might say this transition has been the simplest for me. I do not know if that is expertise of shifting rather a lot prior to now, nevertheless it’s been actually easy. The persons are nice, everyone on the membership have taken care of me and my household, which has been nice. It is all all the way down to the liaison workforce, who helped us discover a place. It has been very straightforward.”

Ings’ recommendation to keep away from relegation | ‘Bundles of expertise in West Ham dressing room’

Though Ings describes the transfer as a “no-brainer”, he joined a West Ham facet struggling to match the type of previous seasons. They discover themselves within the relegation zone, one level from security.

Nonetheless, the relative security of twelfth place – at present occupied by Crystal Palace – is simply three factors away in a relegation battle that is still too near name.

Ings is not any stranger to a struggle to keep away from the drop into the Championship, and provided his personal blueprint for conserving your Premier League place.

He stated: “Dedication over all the things else. Understanding the place you might be and what must be achieved is essential. It is necessary for folks to step up and seize it by the scruff of the neck.

“We’ve not had a sport now for per week or 10 days, we have been working laborious and we’re itching to get again on the market and switch issues round.

“As a striker, you at all times have these pressures [to hit the ground running], irrespective of the place you might be actually. Transferring in January was a brand new factor for me. I do know that I’ve come right here to attain objectives and assist the workforce.

“Earlier than I got here, they weren’t in the perfect place and so they’re nonetheless not now. However we’re dedicated each single day to vary that.

“If any workforce has success in latest seasons, the expectation is larger. Groups have tough seasons, it is simply the best way the league goes and there is a lot high quality in that as nicely.

“It is undoubtedly laborious as a result of the followers are very passionate and the lads wish to ship what they need each single week.

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“The league is so robust, some video games do not go the best way you need it to after which different days, we have now extraordinarily good days the place we roll over groups and all the things is nice once more. It is the highs and lows of being a footballer.”

Ings can be sure West Ham have the expertise of their squad to keep away from a return to English soccer’s second tier.

“Earlier than I signed, you take a look at the squad and see the expertise within the room and the way a lot West Ham have achieved in the previous few seasons. It was a very good transfer and one I used to be trying ahead to,” he added.

“The previous few seasons, I’ve hated taking part in towards West Ham. I do not suppose I’ve truly scored towards them, so I knew how good the squad was.

“However being in coaching with them each day and seeing the standard, it is evident. I do not suppose you obtain what they’ve during the last couple of seasons with out that. There’s bundles of expertise inside that dressing room.

“However having the expertise within the squad is rarely sufficient, as everyone is aware of, the Premier League is so tough.

“For us, we want to verify we’re giving 100 per cent day in, time out as a result of it is a very tough time and a whole lot of good groups on this league that we have to beat.

“We have undoubtedly obtained greater than sufficient potential inside the dressing room to try this. However there’s a whole lot of work between now and the tip of the season to make it possible for occurs. There’s a whole lot of good groups in and round it. For us, we all know precisely how a lot work must be achieved to get the job achieved.”

Ings centered on West Ham forward of Saints reunion

Southampton are one of many groups vying for Premier League survival. They’re backside of the desk by some extent, and beneath new supervisor Ruben Selles, scorching on the heels of the groups above them – together with West Ham.

However regardless of Ings’ connections to Southampton as a membership and a metropolis, he’s solely centered on the job he has to do for his present workforce.

“It is a huge sport,” he stated of the match towards the Saints, reside on Sky Sports activities. “It is a dwelling sport and we have been fairly good at dwelling just lately.

“It should be extraordinarily tough, each groups combating for the factors, it is important. I spent a extremely good few years at Southampton, I’ve obtained nice mates there, however I am at West Ham now and that is the place I would like to present it all the things. That is why I signed. Everybody is aware of that irrespective of the place I’m, what membership I am at, I will at all times give it 100 per cent.

“I do not suppose it’s tough [to separate his hometown club and his current club] as a result of I am there to do a job for my workforce and that is precisely what I’ve to do. For those who begin overthinking issues, you will not carry out your greatest talents in that sport.

“For me, I take a look at it as simply one other sport and I’ve obtained to verify I give my all for the workforce, whether or not I begin or come from the bench, I’ve to try to assist West Ham in any means I can.”

Watch West Ham vs Southampton reside on Sky Sports activities Premier League and Fundamental Occasion from 1pm on Tremendous Sunday; kick-off 2pm